Guide To African-American Monuments

Take Black History Month seriously this year with getaways to visit inspiring African-American monuments. And it doesn’t get any bigger than a national memorial. As of Aug. 28, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. now stands regally cut into rough granite amongst other memorials on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall. If you visit the MLK Memorial, where should you stay when you go? And, what about other top black memorials and statues?

Here’s a primer on the top African-American monuments with some colorful hotel tips too.

Washington DC: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
Dedicated just this past summer, The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is worth the trip to DC. The sight is scenic as MLK’s proud form stands tall on the edge of a nature-filled tidal basin. So far, millions of tourists have flocked here to view Dr. King’s image as well as to marvel and appreciate the dedication of those who created this hard-fought memorial.

Although the rooms are rather small, The Harrington Hotel is a classic DC property. Clean, comfortable and reasonably-priced, “The Harrington” is just two blocks from The National Mall and other major DC attractions. Double-decked tour buses run right from the hotel, so make sure to book a seat through the hotel’s concierge. Don’t miss eating downstairs at Harriett’s Family Restaurant or across the street at the lively Harry’s Restaurant.

Los Angeles: California African-American Museum
The California African American Museum is located on the grounds of Exposition Park. The 44,000 sq. ft. museum has three galleries, a theatre, an outdoor sculpture garden, a conference center, an archive and a research library. Permanent and traveling exhibits include both historic and contemporary black artists.

The neighborhood surrounding the museum isn’t full of hotels (although the USC campus is here), so think about staying near downtown’s entertainment complex, L.A. Live. The Staples Center and the L.A. Convention Center convene on this spot and now L.A. Live is a central complex full of restaurants, shops, clubs and hotels. Right in the center of the action is the JW Marriott Hotel with its striking all-glass tower. Rooms are contemporary, plush and some come with stunning LA city views all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Lower Manhattan: African Burial Ground
The African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan is a memorial to the remains of more than 400 Africans who were buried here in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, archaeologists believe perhaps more than 20,000 burials occurred on this cemetery and art-filled national park near New York City Hall.

Although The Millenium Hilton suffered damage from the 9/11 attacks (it sits directly across from Ground Zero), this 50-story hotel was completely refurbished in 2003. Rooms take advantage of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows for stunning city views (in some rooms). Hilton’s “serenity” beds and 42-inch TVs make the rooms here a cozy oasis in the busy city. From this central location, NYC tourists can walk just 10-15 minutes to such iconic attractions as city hall, Wall Street, The New York Stock Exchange, South Street Seaport, Chinatown and Battery Park.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Located in the center of the battle ground for equality during the 60s, Birmingham, Alabama’s Birmingham Civil Right Institute is a museum and living memorial. The institute holds permanent and traveling art and educational exhibits mostly focusing on the struggle for civil rights in the South. A kid-friendly place, the institute includes fascinating oral history videos and some interactive exhibits.

Birmingham’s “civil rights district” does not have any hotels, but the downtown can be easily reached via the city’s DART subway system. The Tutwiler Hotel, which is now managed by Hampton Suites & Inns, is a historic property in downtown Birmingham just one block from the transit station. Mainly a business hotel, The Tutwiler is actually an affordable, convenient, clean and family-friendly place for any stay in Birmingham.

BEST BLACK STATUES

Not surprisingly, the United States doesn’t have many black memorials. However, the country does boast a long list of statues dedicated to famous African Americans. Here’s a list of the top statues when visiting major U.S. travel destinations:

Atlanta: A poetic Tupac Shakur monument is located outside Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.

Boston: The dramatic Crispus Attucks statue atop a white marble base punctuates Boston Common.

Detroit: A post-modern Joe Louis tribute sculpture rocks the corner of Jefferson Avenue at Woodward.

Harlem: The serene Harriett Tubman bronze stands along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Don’t miss the soul-stirring Adam Clayton Powell memorial (on 7th Avenue between 125th and 126th streets). Also, a Malcolm X statue stands proudly in the historic Audubon Ballroom of Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

Nashville: Scholarly W.E.B. Dubois statue sits on the campus of all-black college Fisk University.

Seattle: Breakthrough rocker Jimi Hendrix plays a bronze guitar near Cal Anderson Park at the corner of Broadway and East Pine Avenue.
 

Written by: Sheryll Alexander