February is here (well, almost)! It’s officially time to celebrate Black History month. Washington, D.C., is our nation’s capital and a great place to visit on a family vacation. If you are thinking of bringing the family to D.C. for a visit, be sure to visit some of the African American historical sites and vacation with a purpose.
DC is home to several notable black historical sites. Among the most popular ones are Frederick Douglas’ house and the recently dedicated MLK Memorial. Before visiting those historical sites, you should also visit the African American Civil War Memorial & Museum.
This fabulous memorial and museum is often overlooked but is a definite must see for all African Americans. Settled into its new location on Vermont Ave. in northwest D.C., the museum tells the stories of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) through rare photographs, documents, artifacts, seminars and historical re-enactments. Visitors on Saturdays get a special treat with the exclusive First Saturday Descendants Presentation, which is a personal tribute of fascinating information about one of the USCT members by one of their family members.
The museum is open Tuesday ““ Friday 10:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Group tours can also be arranged.
Complementing the museum is the statue that permanently reminds us of the courageous soldiers of the USCT. The bronze statue is breathtaking in person and is appropriately titled: “Spirit of Freedom: African American Civil War Memorial Sculpture.” The statues’ backdrop is the “Wall of Honor,” which lists the names of all the brave members of the USCT.
Let’s all pledge to celebrate Black History month all year long and vacation with a purpose. To book your own family tour, please visit: www.afroamcivilwar.org or call 202-667-2667. Support the memorial and the museum by making a donation.
By The Travelin Diva (Kirstin N. Fuller)
Visit www.Passenger156.com for more ideas on vacations with a purpose.
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