Visitors encouraged to explore the award-winning Civil Rights Guide, Black History 365, historic sites and events
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) encourages visitors to celebrate Black History Month (February), which commemorates African American history and achievements while recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The Annapolis and Anne Arundel County area is home to several exhibits, events, memorials, murals, museums, and more that honor the contributions of Black Marylanders, all masterfully laid out in the award-winning Civil Rights Guide for visitors to explore.
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County published its Civil Rights Guide in 2024, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County spearheaded a multicultural advisory committee of local historians, artists, writers, and business and community leaders to gather a comprehensive list of the county's Civil Rights sites for the guide. As a result of the collaboration, the guide is a 24-page, full-color printed publication that includes maps, historical information, photographs about the Civil Rights movement, and inspirational stories of resilience and resistance for visitors to explore. The guide was applauded by Maryland Governor Wes Moore and received two honors: the “Heritage Tourism Product of the Year Award” from both the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area and the residents of Anne Arundel County.
Events & Exhibits
“Sacred Spaces” featuring Jabari Jefferson: A Groundbreaking Exhibition Honoring African American Heritage and Sustainability. Beginning Feb. 8, this exhibition will feature never-before-seen works on canvas, striking sculptures, and a large-scale community installation created in collaboration with local Annapolis students and residents. Through his innovative approach to oil paint, mixed media, and augmented reality, Jefferson masterfully transforms salvaged materials, including textiles, books, soil, and clothing, into provocative artworks that challenge our notions of value and disposability.
Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, Feb. 8 -Dec. 30 from 12-4 p.m.
Black History Month at the Museum of Historic Annapolis - Drop in on Feb. 8 for special family activities to commemorate the rich cultural heritage of the African Americans who have helped shape the nation. Between 12 - 2 p.m., meet a living historian portraying Lucy Smith, a free Black woman who sold baked goods at the marketplace near City Dock in the early 1800s. Make a special craft, then enjoy a scavenger hunt through the museum and learn about local Black history. Take a break in the Anne Arundel County Library Book Nook and learn more about African American history with a curated selection of children’s books. Check out the Community Gallery special exhibit: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 & Annapolis Activism. Guided tours are offered at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Museum of Historic Annapolis, $7 admission fee on Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The State of Black Annapolis Speaker Series - The speaker series will feature local experts and historians on topics that relate to African American culture and life in Maryland’s state capital. The program seeks to highlight aspects of our history that are not always well-known, and the enduring contribution of African American residents, past and present.
Annapolis Area Library, free and open to the public. Dates – Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 from 4:30-7 p.m.
Shadows Of My Labor: Honoring Black History Month Exhibition - This year's Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” provides a vital platform to honor and recognize the impactful contributions of Black and African American artists across various disciplines. The exhibition will highlight not only their artistic achievements but also their roles in advancing social justice, cultural movements, and activism, creating a rich narrative that connects artistry with the labor that shapes society. Through visual arts, music, and activism, the showcased work will illuminate the intersections of creativity and the pursuit of equality, celebrating the enduring legacy and influence of Black and African American artists in these fields.
Chesapeake Arts Center, Jan. 23-March 4 starting at 6 p.m.
African American Heritage Tour - Trace the journey of notable Marylanders and explore their impact both nationally and internationally. This two-hour walking tour, offered in partnership with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation and named a “Heritage Award Winner” by the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, starts at Market House Park across from Annapolis City Dock, where slave ships entered 300 years ago. The Alex Haley statue, which marks the significance of the author of “Roots” and the journey of his ancestor Kunta Kinte is featured. Symbolically, the stroll continues uphill through local history to the State House and the statue of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Hear of famous Marylanders, such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. Your period-attired guide will highlight the importance of the Underground Railroad in the Chesapeake Bay region. During colonial times, the labor of both the enslaved and free Blacks was the cornerstone upon which the tobacco economy was built. In the 19th century, Maryland was home to more free African American residents than any other state. Presently, Maryland continues to grow because of the important contributions made by its African American residents. The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation receives 20 percent of the proceeds.
Annapolis Walking Tours by Watermark, $24/adults, $13/child, Feb. 15-Dec. 20 from 1-3 p.m.
Places of Interest
- Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum - The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, named for Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman, is dedicated to preserving Maryland's African American heritage and serves as the state's official repository of African American material culture.
- Maryland State House – The Maryland State House has been the site of marches, protests, legislation, and political action – both for and against civil rights.
- The Graduate – Find the marker on-site at the Graduate Hotel where Annapolis citizens held a "sit-in" demonstration at the Terminal Restaurant to demand that all citizens receive service. They acted as representatives of the local community, the Congress of Racial Equality and NAACP Annapolis Chapter.
- Museum of Historic Annapolis – Sit at a lunch counter, explore the interactive exhibits, and discover powerful stories of the young people and community leaders who rose up to lead the Civil Rights Movement in Annapolis.
- Stanton Community Center – A hub for activism during the Civil Rights Movement, the center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it serves as an active community center and houses a fully furnished schoolroom illustrating the building’s original use as one of Annapolis’ first schools for African American children.
- Lothian (41 Ark Road) – Geraldine “Gerri” Whittington was the personal executive secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson when the Civil Rights Act was signed. She is buried in the church cemetery.
- Seafarers Yacht Club/Turner Park - Panels tell the history of the club, located in a former Rosenwald School. In 1967 it became the Seafarers Yacht Club, founded by a group of Black men who acted in response to persistent discrimination at marinas, piers and yacht clubs.
- Beachwood Park – In the 1950s, Beachwood Park was advertised as “Maryland’s finest interracial beach and amusement park.” On the shores of the Magothy River, it is now a county park and open to visitors.
- People’s Park – This park is dedicated to the memory and history of the Old Fourth Ward businesses and residents removed during the 1960s National Urban Renewal Movement. This area, which was extremely active during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, was destroyed in the name of the progress and an attempt to silence activism in the city.
Murals and Memorials
- Thurgood Marshall Memorial Plaza - This memorial honors the great civil rights leader who became the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is erected on the site of the old Court of Appeals building where Marshall argued some of his early civil rights cases. The plaza is prominently located as you enter downtown Annapolis, directly in front of the Maryland State House.
- Civil Rights Foot Soldiers Memorial – On August 28, 1963, people gathered here to ride buses to Washington, D.C. for the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Today, the memorial honors Anne Arundel County residents who participated in the march.
- Lynching Memorial – Between the American Civil War and World War II, more than 4,000 racially motivated lynchings occurred in the U.S. A memorial to the five lynchings that occurred in Anne Arundel County during that time can be found here.
- Congressman John Lewis Mural - This mural features John Lewis, an American politician and civil rights leader. Behind his portrait is a depiction of the iconic scene of key activists leading the Selma to Montgomery marches over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.
- Pearl Bailey Mural Project - This mural is painted on the Whitmore Parking Garage, which replaced 33 minority-owned businesses and many homes during efforts at urban renewal. This once-thriving block also had venues where artists such as Pearl Bailey performed.
- Fourth Ward, circa 1940s Mural – This mural celebrates the jazz era in the Old Fourth Ward when some of the most celebrated Black entertainers performed here, including Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and many others.
- Thurgood Marshall and Equal Justice Mural - This mural honors two late Supreme Court justices: Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is located directly across from the Anne Arundel County Courthouse.
- Star Theatre Mural – Today, a mural marks where the Star Theatre once stood. It was the only commercial movie theater where African Americans could go to view popular films during segregation.
- Breonna Taylor Mural – This 7,000 sq. ft. mural seeks to amplify the conversation about systemic racism and police brutality towards unarmed African Americans, while also serving as a reminder that African American women also fall victim to such violence.
Black History 365 is a section of the VAAAC website and features a collection of stories, art, and events that highlight the history, heritage, and contributions of Black Marylanders and the history of the people of the African Diaspora in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Here, their culture and excellence are celebrated year-round through a collaborative initiative across county and statewide organizations spearheaded by the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. The website has many great resources, including:
- The Maryland State Archives Presents: Legacy of Slavery in Maryland - This program seeks to preserve and promote the vast universe of experiences that have shaped the lives of Maryland's African American population. Since Mathias de Sousa and Francisco landed in St. Mary's County aboard the Ark and the Dove in 1634, Black Marylanders have made significant contributions to the state and nation in the political, economic, agricultural, legal, and domestic arenas. Despite what often seemed like insurmountable odds, Marylanders of color have adapted, evolved, and prevailed.
- African American History & Heritage in Anne Arundel County - The government of Anne Arundel County has put together an oral history and tour of the Civil Rights Era. Relying upon more than 50 oral histories, this virtual tour offers a rare opportunity to hear about local history through the eyes, voices, and memories of those who experienced it first-hand. The project highlights local places, residents, and their stories and offers accounts of everyday activities during segregation. It documents spaces of leisure and recreation where people of color could gather and enjoy solidarity and empowerment, places like stores, ballfields, beaches, juke joints, movie theaters, beauty salons, and barber shops. A team of historians, led by Lyndra Marshall (née Pratt) and Dr. John Kille, worked with citizens who generously shared their memories of what life was like during segregation and uncovered compelling stories of injustice, resistance, and sacrifice, as well as perseverance and triumph. The complete interviews and transcriptions are accessible by request from the Maryland State Archives.
- Anne Arundel County Public Library System - The Anne Arundel County Public Library System (AACPL) celebrated its centennial in 2021. Our county's public library system has long been a resource for education and activism in the African American Community through its diverse and inclusive programming. Last year, AACPL joined forces with the City of Annapolis for the State of Black Annapolis speaker series. In addition to their Black History events, AACPL provided LatinX and Indigenous programming throughout the year.
About Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is a nonprofit, partnership-focused destination marketing and management organization dedicated to fostering a welcoming destination and promoting tourism for visitors, partners, and the community. The tourism and hospitality industry in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County significantly impacts Maryland's economy. In 2023, visitor spending injected $4.1 billion into the state economy, attracting more than 6.8 million visitors, and sustaining more than 26,000 jobs (both directly and indirectly), according to the 2023 Economic Impact of Tourism in Maryland Report. For more information, please visit www.VAAAC.org.
