Three new US tours and attractions that celebrate black history
Ahead of Black History Month in the US in February, Abra Dunsby picks out three new educational tours and attractions in the destination that honour black history and culture
For music and culture:
National Museum of African American Music, Nashville
Nashville – aka Music City – has another tuneful string to add to its bow. The National Museum of African American Music opens on Martin Luther King Jr Day (18 January), charting the many genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans.
The museum uses interactive technology to bring countless musical legends to life, with curated collections and galleries covering 50 musical genres and subgenres, from gospel and jazz to R&B and hip-hop.
Butch Spyridon, president and chief executive of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, says: “The National Museum of African American Music is the last piece of the branding puzzle that is Music City. We have worked hard to demonstrate the depth and breadth of music that comes out of this town – from songwriters to musicians and gospel to country. The museum gives us the platform to tell the country’s story of black music, and also the opportunity to share Nashville’s piece of that story.”
“We are a music destination and this museum joins the ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, Historic RCA Studio B, Quonset Hut Studio, Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry as Nashville treasures that showcase why we are the only Music City.”
The museum will also host events ranging from radio broadcasts by famous artists to live performances.
Book it: Tickets cost $24.95 per adult and $13.50 per youth (aged 7-17). nmaam.org; thebrandusa.com
For a journey through the American South:
The American South Escorted Tour, Atlanta to Chattanooga
Gold Medal’s new 14-day tour tells the powerful story of slavery, the Civil Rights movement and current-day race relations in the US, with visits to Martin Luther King Jr’s boyhood home in Atlanta and time spent visiting the landmarks of the Civil Rights Trail in Montgomery and Selma.
Mark Henderson, head of product (West) at Gold Medal, says: “Last year really brought the Black Lives Matter movement to the foreground, and with it has come a greater desire to learn more about the history and struggles behind it.
“[On this tour] visitors have the opportunity to gain a glimpse into the past through the music, landscape, food, locations and people that make this a truly inspirational part of the US.”
Book it: Prices for The American South Escorted Tour start from £1,899pp including flights, accommodation and some breakfasts, departing 1 Sep-31 Oct 2021. goldmedal.co.uk
For a celebration of black resilience:
Greenwood Rising Center, Tulsa
Clients visiting Tulsa in Oklahoma later this year can spend time at the Greenwood Rising Center, which opens in autumn. The museum and “history centre” tells the story of Tulsa’s African American community, which, during segregation, created a renowned entrepreneurial hub, nicknamed “Black Wall Street” and located in
the Greenwood District. Race tensions boiled over in 1921, leading to the infamous Tulsa Race Massacre, during which hundreds died and the district was left in flames.
The Greenwood Rising Center, which opens 100 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, honours the legacy of Black Wall Street and the rich history that surrounds it, with plans for events, concerts and educational talks to also take place to commemorate those who suffered, while educating visitors and paving the way for a brighter future.
Book it: Ticket prices start from $12 for adults and $8 for youths. tulsa2021.org
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