History
George Washington Carver statute. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick
“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”
— Moslih Eddin Saadi
No matter where you go, every place has a story and historical travel unpacks those stories.
From great struggles against oppressive forces to human ingenuity, the people and the places who have defined significant eras in human history move many to travel see where history was made. Travel through the historical places, see and observe what was then and how things are now. Every place has evolved over ages and become what it is today , hence you must visit history to understand the struggles and changes that came through with time.
Being able to walk where history was made, seeing the places that shaped legendary figures or experiencing life as our ancestors did, historical travel allows history to come to life in ways that transcend a history book.
Originally named Vermilionville, today Lafayette, Louisiana is home to a living history museum that takes you back to a recreated Acadian village. Acadian culture began with Le Grand Derangement in the 1750s and ‘60s. At that time during the French and Indian War, the British drove thousands of French Canadians out of their home. Because they were Catholic and refused to sign loyalty oaths to England, the British didn’t trust them. They captured the Acadians, loaded them in ships, and deported them.
A half hour’s drive north of Pittsburgh, the tiny Western Pennsylvania town of Harmony, with a population of fewer than 1,000 people, has an unusual history that makes for a fascinating visit.
The current city of Dallas, Texas was once called the Peters Colony and inhabited by a variety of Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Tawakoni, Delaware, and Waco tribes.
The Fredericksburg region in Virginia is part of Spotsylvania County and not only was it a prominent destination during the colonial times, it played a huge role during the Civil War.
Mention Daytona Beach, Florida, and most people will either declare its glory as the birthplace of NASCAR or as the “World’s Most Famous Beach.” Daytona Beach and its surrounding communities occupy an iconic piece of Florida’s east coast. It turns out Daytona Beach is a treasure trove of Black history sites and stories.
From the new Morgan Freeman film, Invictus, to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Games, South Africa has become a lead actor on the world’s stage. What is most striking about this beautiful nation is that the South African natural landscape is as compelling as the journey through the places shaping the country’s transformation from apartheid to a multicultural democracy.
As you enter Roots 101 museum in Louisville, Kentucky, portraits of royalty catch your eye. Tucked away on a side street just steps from the Ohio River, this unassuming location delivers the true African American story with more punches than you could ever imagine. Founded by Lamont Collins who moved to Louisville in the 1960s and found acceptance as an athlete, this unique museum packs powerful realities into every inch.
Traveling throughout the Caribbean and especially the West Indies, one can experience the cultural influences of the Garifuna people in the food, music, dance and island traditions.
One December night, I walked up the subway steps in Brooklyn after a rough commute and an exhausting restaurant shift. When I stepped onto Manhattan Avenue and looked up, all my gripes dissipated under a simple string of holiday lights that read, “Welcome To Greenpoint.”
Many people know the story of the African American town Rosewood from the movie about the massacre, but how many of us have heard of Goldsboro, Florida, the second black incorporated city in the United States, which also thrived and was subsequently destroyed?
I've driven by the exit off Interstate 4 just north of Orlando, Florida, dozens of times, and always wondered about Eatonville. You can see the sign from the freeway that reads "Oldest Incorporated African American Municipality in America." Recently, I decided to take the exit and finally explore this city of deep significance to our country.
Black History Month has been celebrated annually since the year 1926. First termed “Negro History Week,” Black History Month is honored each February.
