Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
If you are traveling during February – or any other month – consider making a stop at one of these sites to learn about the long history of Black military experience in the United States.
African American Civil War Memorial & Museum, Washington, D.C. In the historical U Street district of the nation’s capital sits the museum and nearby memorial. On the memorial’s Wall of Honor are inscribed the names of 209,145 U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) soldiers who fought in the war. The museum features artifacts, documents, personal stories and more. Admission is free.
African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial, Wilmington, Del. Since its inception, 92 Medals of Honor have been awarded to African American servicemembers or veterans. This granite memorial in Brandywine Park explains the pre-eminence of the award and lists names of recipients, along with life-size bronze figures of Civil War and World War II soldiers.
African American Military History Museum, Hattiesburg, Miss. This museum is located in the former East Sixth Street USO building at Camp Shelby, which later became a Black community center. Holdings include uniforms, flags and more. The museum also provides educational resources in history, arts and STEM. The structure has National Historic Landmark and Mississippi Landmark status. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
African American Veterans Monument, Buffalo, N.Y. Dedicated in September 2022, this monument in Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is described on its website as “the first of its kind to recognize the contributions of Blacks who have served and are currently serving in all six branches of the military, during war and in peace times. Black servicemembers have fought in all 12 of the United States’ military conflicts since the country’s first war, whether they enlisted voluntarily, or were drafted.”
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Houston. The Buffalo Soldiers are brought to life in this Midtown museum through the visual and performing arts, exhibitions and educational programming. The museum’s website, buffalosoldiersmuseum.org, links to a database of names, hometowns and occupations.