MLK statue on the National Mall. Photo by Hugo Magalhaes.

Connecting Groups to Black History

MLK statue on the National Mall. Photo by Hugo Magalhaes.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This February, elevate group journeys and activities by weaving in experiences that honor the legacy, achievements and voices celebrated during Black History Month.

Boston’s Black Heritage Trail points the way to history.

The following cities feature Black history tours and heritage experiences that enhance meetings by encouraging engagement, shared learning and a deeper sense of connection among attendees.

  • Boston—The Black Heritage Trail, a National Park Service-designated, 1.6-mile walking trail through Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, highlighting 14 sites significant to the 19th-century free Black community. Self-guided and ranger-led tours are available.

  • Washington, D.C.—Home to memorials and cultural commemorations focused on civil rights and Black heritage, an essential part of D.C.’s identity. Groups can explore ways to honor the African American experience, including Black-owned restaurants and Black chefs; visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and stand where heroes have led the charge for civil rights, including the Lincoln Memorial.

  • Philadelphia—Philly is celebrating February 2026 with a full lineup of events, including major exhibitions by artists from the African diaspora at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the African American Museum; and heritage tours with The Black Journey, Mural Arts Philadelphia or Laurel Hill Cemetery.

  • New York City—New York City-bound groups can sample Harlem Heritage walking tours, Schomburg Center events and New York City Parks, celebrating with guided Urban Park Ranger tours, historical exhibitions and interactive programs.

  • Discover the Gullah Geechie culture in South Carolina.

    Charleston, SC—The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor spans South Carolina’s coast and its Sea Islands, where descendants of enslaved West Africans have preserved distinctive language and traditions. Visitors can experience this rich heritage through historic plantations, museums and guided tours in vibrant cities like Charleston, Beaufort and Georgetown.

  • San Antonio, TXThe Soul of San Antonio Tour is a half-day immersion into the city’s Black history, taking in a historic cemetery, the “safe places” for Negro motorists during the Jim Crow era, the Williams Historical Museum and the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum. The day ends with a Black History tour on the San Antonio River.

  • Chicago, IL — Black History Month 2026 in Chicago features extensive programming, including the Chicago Public Library’s “From Archives to Innovation: The Power of Black Librarianship” series. Sample dishes that reflect Black heritage during Chicago Black Restaurant Week, (Feb. 8-22), and discover the ways that art has created social change on Commemorative Day: Black History Month, Feb. 28 at the Chicago History Museum.

Following are more key places to visit in February:

Wherever your group is headed in February, they can honor African American history and culture through curated educational experiences, community engagement and intentional support of Black-owned businesses. Reach out to local CVBs for more information.

See also  Black History Month in Washington, D.C.