Baltimore African American Heritage Itinerary

Click to download Baltimore's African American Heritage and Attractions Guide

Day One

The National Great Blacks in Wax MuseumStart your exploration at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. Opened in 2005, it is the largest African American museum on the East Coast. It follows the courageous journeys toward freedom and self-determination made by African American Marylanders.

The museum's 200-seat theater, oral history studio, classrooms and exhibition space are outlets to remember struggles, celebrate accomplishments, and serve as a beacon of pride, hope and inspiration for all people. Uncover the history of individuals who overcame incredible obstacles to challenge the status quo and demanded to be free—free to learn, work, pray and vote. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture highlights the achievements of the likes of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Banneker, Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, Thurgood Marshall and Billie Holiday to name a few.

Make your next stop the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards, located in historic Camden Station right next to Oriole Park. There, you will discover Baltimore's two championship Negro League teams—the Baltimore Elite Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox, both of which were part of the Eastern Colored League, later replaced by the American Negro League. You'll also see Frank Robinson, Ray Lewis, Eddie Murray, Jackie Robinson, Lenny Moore and many more famous African American athletes—plus Civil War and railroad history, too.

Head north, to the Eubie Blake National Jazz Museum and Cultural Center, where you will enjoy a display of memorabilia and artifacts honoring the life of Baltimore-born composer and pianist Eubie Blake. The gallery features permanent exhibitions highlighting the legacy of other Baltimore jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway and Chick Webb.

Round out your day with a visit to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, showcasing a world-class collection of locomotives, rolling stock, artifacts and industrial buildings. Museum exhibits and programs vary seasonally and highlight the contributions of African Americans to the railroad industry, describe traditional jobs performed by African Americans and explore social issues such as segregation on the railroad.