Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/70980
COLUMBIA If you're gathering in Columbia, don't' miss a chance to tour theMann-SimonsCottage, the home ofCeliaMann,a slavewhowalked fromCharleston to Columbia after gaining her freedom. The home remained in the hands of Mann's descendants until the 1970s. A new addition is an exhibit on the histo- ry of a lunch counter that operated at the site from 1891 to 1900, featuring artifacts unearthed from a major archeological dig. Additional local Black heritage attractions include the home of city civil rights leader Modjeska Simkins, the African-American Monument on the grounds of the State House, the African-American history collection at the South Carolina State Museum and the Big Apple — a former synagogue that became a popular Black dance club. Today, the Big Apple functions as a nightclub that also offers space for meetings, luncheons and other events. Another choice for evening entertainment is a performance at the Koger Center for the Arts, which also has two meeting rooms. Columbia's former warehouse district, dubbed the Congaree Vista, offers lots of entertainment options in its restaurants, galleries and nightclubs. One of the city's top cultural attractions has gone green: Tourists visiting the Columbia Museum of Art will note that the roof is adorned with 177 solar panels, which are expected to offset 40 tons of carbon a year. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, Visitors to Knoxville, the largest city in the eastern region TENNESSEE of the Volunteer State, can explore the history of women in round ball at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Knoxville's Black heritage is highlighted at the Beck Cultural ExchangeCenter andMorningside Park,which features a 13- ft. bronze statue of Roots authorAlex Haley. Memphis, Tennessee's largest city, lies at its eastern edge. Its famed historic Beale Street entertainment district is a CHATTANOOGA Cultural and historical attractions in this mountainous destination include the Chattanooga African-American Museum, the Bluff View Art District and the 4 Bridges Arts Festival in May. Of course one of Chattanooga's biggest draws is its natural landscape, on view at sites like Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls and Rock City. A ride on the world's steepest passenger railway offers a great sight- seeing post. Kids might especially enjoy a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium or the Chattanooga Zoo atWarner Park,while adult shopping enthusiasts might choose Hamilton Place Mall as their playground. The Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center con- tains 185,000 sq. ft. of space, including 100,800 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit space, 21 meeting rooms and a 56 Young skateboarder giving it his best at one of Chattanooga skate parks Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Columbia Skyline Finlay camping and more at sites like Three Rivers Greenway and Congaree National Park. Nature-loving kids might get a kick out of exploring the Carolina Children's Garden. Sports-loving groups can access a special marketing arm of the local visitors' bureau for help with their event-planning needs. Columbia has more than 537,449 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the 142,500-sq. ft. Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. That facility contains 15,125 sq. ft. of meet- ing space, 24,700-sq. ft. of exhibit space and a 17,135-sq. ft. ball- room. must-see attraction,while two other top sites are theNational Civil Rights Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul. In the state's central region, the capital city of Nashville is home to such historic landmarks as Jubilee Hall, on the cam- pus of FiskUniversity, andMusic Row, the heart of the coun- try music recording industry.A new addition will be the $17 million African American Museum of Music, Art and Culture.