Baltimore African American Heritage Itinerary

Day Two

Frederick Douglass The history of African Americans in Baltimore is one of power, courage and tenacity. Our city has been home to many "freedom fighters" — individuals who chose liberty, transformation and human rights over comfort and personal security.

Frederick Douglass moved to Baltimore City from Maryland's Eastern Shore as an 8-year-old boy. Douglass taught himself how to read and write, though doing so was against state law.

Learn more about Douglass by starting your day in Fell's Point at the Frederick Douglass Marker dedicated by the city of Baltimore in 2003. The marker celebrates the life of the great abolitionist, publisher and orator. While in Fell's Point, see other sites including 18th-century buildings associated with Douglass -- where he lived, worked, worshipped and learned to read. Don't miss the five historic townhouses he built that still stand today.

Built in 1851, the Baltimore Civil War Museum is housed in the President Street railroad station, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The site also played a pivotal role in the Pratt Street Riot, the first incident of bloodshed in the Civil War, and features exhibits on Baltimore's Colored troops that served in the war.

Today, be sure to see the NAACP National Headquarters. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the oldest, largest and strongest civil rights organization in the United States, moved its headquarters to Baltimore in 1986. The building includes a library that holds national civil rights archives, and its grounds feature a memorial garden to writer Dorothy Parker.

On your drive back into the city, come by way of Pennsylvania Avenue. West Baltimore's Pennsylvania Avenue became the center of black culture and life. In and around "The Avenue," blacks owned and operated businesses. During the '30s, '40s and '50s, The Avenue became best known as a center for African American entertainment. At the heart of this reputation was the Royal Theater. Efforts are now underway to revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue and the communities surrounding it.

The St. Francis Academy, established in 1828, is the oldest continuously operating black educational institution in the United States. Founded by Mother Mary Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the building has served as a dormitory for the nuns, a girl's boarding school, a girl's day school, and an orphanage. Today it provides a quality education for children of color in the inner city. Learn why miracles still happen here!

All itineraries listed on this website are merely suggestions. For other suggestions, please contact the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association's knowledgeable tourism staff. For customized itineraries, please contact any of our member receptive tour operators who can also provide step-on guide services.