Black Meetings and Tourism

Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Cincinnati, Ohio is one such attraction. This $110 million, 158,000-sq. ft. facility tells the story of the struggle to abolish slavery through interactive exhibits, gal- leries, and films. The Freedom Center's physical location in downtown Cincinnati is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the great natu- ral barrier that separated slaves from free states. This gorgeous museum tells the dramatic story of the enslaved cross- ing over that river on their journey to freedom, assisted by men and women of all backgrounds who hated slavery and had created a secret network of escape routes that came to be called "the Underground Railroad." Texas is another state that offers plenty of opportunities to bone up on your history. African-American visitors to Fort Worth will want to visit the Stop Six Historic African American Neigh- borhood. This African-American com- munity was developed as the sixth stop of the Interurban train line. Originally known as Cowanville, Stop Six encom- passes a number of early 20th century subdivisions with a range of housing forms and building types. The focal point of the community is the well-pre- served structure of the Sagamore Hill Negro High School/Dunbar Junior High School. Built in 1924, the school has been in continuous use since its con- struction. The Bill Pickett Statue is another site of interest for African- American visitors to Forth Worth. This bronze statue commemorates the world famous Black cowboy Bill Pickett who is the first Black man inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. African-Americans visiting Detroit will want to check out the renowned Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. This world-class facility features a glass-domed rotunda and houses more than 300,000 artifacts and archival materials. The museum fea- tures seven exhibition areas, the General Motors Theater, 1,317-seat facility and a Museum Store. The African World Festival is Detroit's largest ethnic festival uniting people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds together to explore the African and African-American experience. This popular event, taking place during the third weekend of August, offers free music, a diverse artists market, interna- tional cuisine, exhibitions, and cultural activities for both children and adults. Baltimore, Maryland also boasts an incredible assortment of heritage sites, attractions, and museums. Some attrac- tions include the Black Soldiers Statue at the War Memorial Plaza, the Billie Holiday Statue and Royal Theater Marquis Monument, the Thurgood Marshall Statue, and the Wall of Pride, which memorializes Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Paul Robeson and Langston Hughes among others. In California, Oakland is a center for African-American life and visitors to the city should look into the African American Museum and Library, the Ebony Museum of Art and the Museum of African American Technology Science Village. All three offer excellent cultural experiences unique to the city. 94 Slave Cabin exhibit at The Freedom Center Photo Credit: Cincinnati CVB War Memorial Plaza overlooking Baltimore Harbor Photo Credit: Baltimore Area CVA

• Cover