Metal sculpture with the words, “The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still. And his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom.” Maya Angelou, 1928-2014. Poet, Author.

10 Places to Explore Black History in North Carolina

Author: Debbie Tullos

African American culture and history have deep roots in North Carolina. Across the state, these stories are preserved in special locations dedicated to honoring the experiences and achievements of African Americans. Here are 10 places to explore Black history in North Carolina:

  1. Green Book sites
    “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” published between 1936 and 1966, was both a travel guide and a tool of resistance designed to confront the realities of racial discrimination.  The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission’s Green Book Project documents this important history. While many original locations are long gone, some are still around. Plan a visit with this guide from Visit North Carolina highlighting Green Book legacy sites.
  2. Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail, Asheville
    Asheville is one of North Carolina’s most popular places to visit. Rich with history, culture, and arts, this mountain city has much to explore. Asheville’s Black community made significant contributions in the story of this place. The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail honors these contributions from well-known landmarks to underrecognized achievements. The trail leads visitors through three areas of Asheville: Downtown, Southside, and the River Area. Allow approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to fully explore this trail.

  3. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Gibsonville

    Historic building Kimball Hall in the background with students in caps and gowns in front. Two students are holding a sign that says High School Class of 1943.


    Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of more than 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus is preserved as a North Carolina state historic site. The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, as well as emphasizing the contributions of African Americans in North Carolina. Guided and self-guided tours are available.

  4. International Civil Rights Center and Museum, Greensboro
    On February 1, 1960, four African American college students sat down at the Woolworth’s Department Store lunch counter in downtown Greensboro and asked to be served. They were refused, launching a sit-in movement that would spread throughout North Carolina and the South. That location is now preserved as the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. Visitors can view photography, artifacts, and interactive galleries that explore how the sit-in sparked an entire desegregation movement. 

  5. Freedom Park, Raleigh


    Freedom Park, nestled in the heart of downtown Raleigh, is a quiet green space honoring the unyielding spirit of the African American struggle for freedom. This park stands as a timeless tribute to the universal ideals of liberty, resilience, and equality. Anchored by the Beacon of Freedom, the park features 20 “Voices of Freedom” inscribed along its walkways – powerful words of African Americans throughout North Carolina history. The park is open to the public and designed for you to experience at your own pace.

  6. Historic Stagville, Durham

    Original slave dwellings at Historic Stagville State Historic Site. Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.


    Historic Stagville was once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina, where the Bennehan and Cameron families enslaved more than nine hundred people. Today, this 165-acre state historic site inspires new understanding of the history of slavery through preservation, interpretation, research, genealogy, and descendant engagement. Visitors can see original slave dwellings (1850s), a massive barn (1860), a Bennehan family house (1799), and outdoor archeological sites. Guided tours are available, as well as an outdoor self-guided tour with an audio tour option.

  7. Historic Halifax Underground Railroad Trail, Halifax

    Historic building in the background with a sign in the foreground that says Underground Railroad Trail. An arrow under the words points to the left.


    The fight for liberty was different for African Americans in Halifax during the Revolutionary War and beyond. Exhibits in the Historic Halifax State Historic Site Visitor Center tell the story of African Americans in Halifax through enslavement, fighting in the Revolution, and seeking freedom in the years beyond. While at Historic Halifax, take a drive or walk along the quarter-mile Underground Railroad Trail with waysides telling the stories of local freedom seekers.

  8. Historic Edenton

    Historic Edenton Visitor Center on the left with a Harriet Jacobs Highway Historical Marker on the right


    One of Edenton’s most notable figures was writer, abolitionist, and educator Harriet Jacobs. The story of her life, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself, details her early years of enslavement in Edenton and her escape to freedom. The Harriet Jacobs tours highlight many locations mentioned in her book. Pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the Historic Edenton State Historic Site Visitor Center, or make a reservation for a guided tour on special scheduled tour dates.

  9. Somerset Place, Creswell

    Gray historic building in the background with a formal flower garden in the foreground


    Somerset Place State Historic Site offers a comprehensive and realistic view of 19th-century life on a large North Carolina plantation. Guided tours are available upon request. Of particular interest is a new tour entitled “Somerset Place in the New South: From Plantation to State Historic Site, 1865 - Present.” Visitors will learn about the post-Civil War history of Somerset Place on this 75-minute tour, including the demise of slavery, the period after the Collins family’s ownership, and the lives of newly-freed African Americans. Check the site’s Plan Your Visit page for details.

  10. Freedmen’s Colony at Fort Raleigh, Manteo
    Roanoke Island is a place where many eras of American history have unfolded. All of this history converges at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. This site explores the history of the first Algonquian-speaking people, the first English colonies, the Civil War, and the first radio technology testing. An important part of the history preserved at this nationally significant site is the Freedmen’s Colony. After the Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island, many enslaved people sought refuge on the Union-controlled island. If you like hiking, check out the Freedom Trail that takes you through the loblolly pine forest from Fort Raleigh to Freedmen’s Point. Along the way, silhouettes and waysides tell stories from the Freedmen’s Colony, bringing the history to life.

 

More to Explore:
This is just the beginning as you dive into Black history in North Carolina. Check out these additional guides, articles and information that will help you explore more of these important stories:

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