The city of Houston has a rich history as diverse as its population. The African American community in particular has made powerful contributions to the fabric of the city for generations. Whether you have just a day or a weekend, here are a few historical spots to check out during your Tour of Black Houston.
Start your day with a stop at one of our museums. Houston has several dedicated to highlighting the history and culture of Black Houstonians.
The Buffalo Soldiers Museum - African Americans have served in every major American conflict. At the Buffalo Soldiers Museum take some time to learn about the famed Buffalo Soldiers and other contributions from Black soldiers in the military.
The Houston Museum of African American Culture - As its name implies, HMAAC is a must-stop for those wanting to learn more about Houston and the African American community.
In the afternoon make your way over to the historic Freedmen’s Town where formerly enslaved people built a community soon after emancipation. Today, visitors will find churches with congregations dating back to the 1800s still active in the community. Visitors should also stop by The African American Library at the Gregory School. Now a library, the Gregory School was the first school to educate formerly enslaved people in the Houston area. The Rutherford B H Yates Museum also is refurbishing homes of prominent residents of the community as part of their museum.
Be sure to park and walk along the neighborhood. You will see historical markers on just about every corner documenting the contributions of Black Houstonians.
Third Ward
Over in Third Ward, take a stop over at Emancipation Park. Following emancipation, a group of freedmen pooled money together from the community to purchase a parcel of land to celebrate Juneteenth. The park still hosts Juneteenth celebrations over 150 years following emancipation.
While you are in the neighborhood, be sure to visit Project Row Houses. The rotating exhibits explore different topics while also addressing the rapid gentrification in the neighborhood.
Finally, a stop over to Texas Southern University is also a must. Here you can see murals by Dr. John Biggers, explore the Barbara Jordan archives and walk through buildings named after prominent African Americans like Thurgood Marshall and Mickey Leland.
This is just a small snapshot of the Black history you can uncover during one day in Houston!