Back in 1926, Negro History Week was first recognized and that event has since grown into a world-wide celebration to honor the contributions of Black people to the United Staes. There are plenty of events planned across the country and we’ve listed a few historic locations to visit when camping this month.
California
Plan to visit the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) when visiting San Francisco RV. MoAD, billed as a global museum with an African American emphasis, is a contemporary art museum that celebrates Black art and culture. Don’t miss the three-story high “mosaic of humanity” on the building’s facade on the Mission Street side.
Florida
If you’re camping at Encore Bulow, plan a visit to Fort Mose State Park in St. Augustine. This 40-acre historic waterfront site was the location of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in the country. It was a sanctuary for the Africans that were fleeing slavery in England as well as the newly-found Carolinas settlement.
South Carolina
If you’re camping at Thousand Trails Oaks at Point South, you’re nearby to two Black History sites. The Tuskegee Airmen Monument is located in Walterboro at the Walterboro Airfield which served as a training ground for the Army and for the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. A monument was placed at the airfield in 1997 to honor these brave flying men. The International African American Museum (iaamuseum.org) in Charleston opened this past June on the site which was the disembarkation point for up to 40% of all enslaved persons. The museum, through exhibits, events, and artifacts, tells the history of the African American experience.
Tennessee
A camping stay at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace should include a trip into Nashville and if you are looking to honor Black History Month, visit the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the music of African American musicians in the country. The Museum opened in January 2021 and has interactive exhibits as well as digital experiences showcasing the history of the music. Nashville also has a Civil Rights Trail (civilrightstrail.com/destination/nashville) that highlights several important sites.
If you’re planning a camping trip to Thousand Trails Cherokee Landing during their open season (April 4-November 15) be sure to take a ride into Memphis to see the Beale Street Historic District, which is part of the state’s Civil Rights Trail, and was once a thriving location for Black commerce and culture. The area inspired “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy to write “Beale Street Blues.”
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- Go big this month with an RV trip to Texas or California, our second and third largest states.
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- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass.
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.