24 Museums Dedicated to Black History

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in Washington, D.C., in 2016. It quickly became known for its striking architecture and massive collection of artifacts and exhibits that explore many facets of Black History. (The NMAAHC is also known for its excellent museum cafe.) But while this museum on the National Mall may be the country’s most prominent Black history museum, there are many smaller museums worth visiting. They showcase the triumphs and achievements of Black Americans, from activists and politicians to artists and teachers.

In Tacoma, Washington, you can find a small museum dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers. Formed in 1866, the 10th Cavalry Regiment was comprised mostly of Black soldiers and tasked with protecting America’s westward expansion. A popular story holds that the unit’s name came from Native Americans who said the soldiers fought like fierce Great Plains buffalo.

Near the marshlands of Savannah, Georgia, stands the Pin Point Heritage Museum. Founded by formerly enslaved people, the area was a bastion for Gullah-Geechee culture. Pin Point and the old oyster cannery where the museum is located were founded by descendants of the original community. From a museum dedicated to Los Angeles’ Black firefighters to a home that was one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad, here are 24 lesser-known museums that celebrate Black history.