By Lynn O’Rourke Hayes, FamilyTravel.com (TNS)

Delve into America’s Civil Rights story with a visit to these important landmarks and destinations.

Here are five to consider.

The Legacy Sites, Montgomery, Alabama

Sitting atop a rise overlooking Montgomery, the six-acre National Memorial for Peace and Justice was conceived with the hope of creating a meaningful site where people could gather, learn and reflect on America’s history of racial inequality. Using sculpture, art and design to contextualize racial terror, the outdoor memorial, as well as the nearby Legacy Museum, were the inspiration of Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. These spaces are designed to provide comprehensive content about the legacy of slavery through contemporary issues including the mass incarceration of African American men and the modern proliferation of mass shootings. A shuttle service runs between the museum, the memorial and the 17-acre Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.

For more: https://legacysites.eji.org/

Black Heritage Trail, New Hampshire

The Granite State’s Black Heritage Trail is designed to celebrate a people’s history of resilience, versatility and courage through multiple programs. Visitors can join in the annual Juneteenth celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States or check out The Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks, a series of participatory lectures related to New Hampshire’s Black history and African American culture. Guided tours in six cities across the state delve into themes that, in part, illustrate the self-determination and resourcefulness of the earliest Africans to live in New Hampshire. An annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ historic protest speech also takes place in communities across the state.

For more: www.visitnh.gov

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Families can seek ongoing inspiration from the words and work of clergyman and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. through a visit to this monument in West Potomac Park. Open 24 hours a day, the memorial, located adjacent to the National Mall near the FDR Memorial and framing views of the Tidal Basin, features quotes extracted from the leader’s eloquent speeches emphasizing four of King’s primary messages: justice, democracy, hope and love. Site tours and Junior Ranger badge activities are available and can help extend the experience for children.

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For more: nps.gov/mlkm/planyourvisit

The African American Heritage Trail, Columbia, Missouri

The two-mile urban trail in the heart of Columbia, Missouri, honors local Black individuals and institutions from the city’s first 200 years. Significant stops along the way include the John William “Blind” Boone home. The two-story Victorian residence was preserved to honor Boone’s contributions to music and his community. During his lifetime he overcame blindness, poverty and discrimination to become an renowned composer and concert pianist. Historians credit Boone with providing a direct link between traditional African American music, classical music and the sound that came to be known as ragtime.

For more: www.visitmo.com

Natchez, Mississippi

The story of slavery and African American culture in Natchez is one of the most complex threads of the city’s multifaceted history. The city has 13 National Historic Landmarks and over 1,000 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can delve into the past at the Museum of African American History and Culture on Main Street. Consider a double-decker bus tour (hop on and hop off at various locations) that launches at the Natchez Visitors Center and rolls through the Southern town, passing by many of the most significant landmarks. Narration is provided from the point of view of two slaves who lived during the difficult era when slave trading at local slave markets was a part of daily life.

For more: www.visitnatchez.org

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