Places to Visit in New York City for Black History Month

There are many famous black history sites to visit in New York City during February, which is Black History Month. This list highlights five places that are prominent places in the black history of New York City. Many of the key Black History Month sites are in Harlem.

SchomburgCenter for Research in Black Culture - The Schomburg Center, located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, is one of the leading research centers focusing on the preservation and collecting of information on the experiences of people of African descent. According to information provided by the Schomburg Center's website, the Center is divided into several divisions: General Research and Reference Division, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, Art and Artifacts Division, Photographs and Prints Division, and Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division. These divisions feature documents, artifacts, recordings, photographs, artwork, and other items that highlight the African and black experience.

Apollo Theater - This famous entertainment landmark was built in 1914 in the heart of Harlem. It has been the showcase for some of the most influential and popular African-American performers and acts according to information on www.apollotheater.org/. Performers ranging from Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holliday to Luther Vandross, James Brown, and Mariah Carey have performed at the Apollo Theater. The Apollo Theater is an excellent place to visit during Black History Month and they offer tours that highlight the significant contributions of blacks and Latinos to American music and entertainment. The Apollo Theater is located at 125^th Street in the heart of Harlem.

StudioMuseum in Harlem - This Black History site located on the famed 125^th Street between Lenox and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. (7th Avenue) in Harlem, is a museum featuring collections of artifacts, photographs, and art that captures the African-American culture and black life in New York City. Founded in 1968, it contains an extensive collection of photographs by renowned Harlem photographer James VanDerZee and art by Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Norman W. Lewis. The Studio Museum in Harlem is a great place to visit for Black History Month and has free admission on the first Saturday of each month.

African Burial Ground - The largest known findings of an intact colonial African cemetery in America was discovered by archaeologists in 1991. The burial grounds contained the skeletal remains of 400 people of African descent and the remains of more than 200 other burial sites were undisturbed. Artifacts were also found at the site which has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The African Burial Ground Memorial site is located on Duane St. between Broadway and Elk Streets and is open to the public from 9AM to 4PM, Monday through Friday. It should be a place to visit for Black History Month.

Abyssinian Baptist Church - This historic church located at 132 W. 138^th Street just off Lenox Avenue is one of the most noted houses of worship in Harlem and New York City. According to information on Wikipedia.org, the church was founded in 1808 by a group of African-American worshipers that were unhappy with segregated seating in a white church, it has been a leading place in the struggle for civil rights and social justice. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. who pastured the church from 1908 to 1936 brought the church to prominence. He was succeeded by his son, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. who went on to become a popular and powerful United States Congressman. The current pastor, Calvin Butts, is also a respected social and political leader. The Abyssinian Baptist Church should be a place to visit during Black History Month.

Sources: http://www.studiomuseum.org/
http://www.africanburialground.gov/
http://www.abyssinian.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/