Learn About Black History at These Powerful Atlanta Museums
From taking a roving art tour to visiting the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., these are the best ways to honor Black History Month in Atlanta.
As the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the city with the second largest Black population in the United States, Atlanta takes Black History Month seriously. But while Black History Month is officially observed during February, Atlanta celebrates Black history year round.
Our city is home to places like the Center for Civil and Human Rights, MLK’s National Historic Park, legendary museums, and much more. So if you’re in ATL, here are some ways to get the most out of Black History Month by visiting museums and taking Black history tours of our great city.
Black History Museums in Atlanta
Downtown
Since it opened its door in 1996, the Spelman College of Fine Art has continued to inspire the school’s surrounding community, as well as the general public, through art by and about women of African descent. Much of the work highlighted there are from established artists, but the museum also showcases the creativity of Black women that are still in the early phases of their art careers. Faith Ringgold, Joyce J. Scott, and Mickalene Thomas, among several others, have held exhibitions here, making this place one of the most sought-after museums in not only Atlanta, but the entire country.
Buckhead
The Atlanta History Center is known for boasting 33 acres of historic houses and gardens and spectacular permanent exhibitions like the Atlanta ‘96, Cyclorama, Atlanta in 50 Objects, and more. The museum also currently has a few Black history-themed exhibitions on view. Those interested in an immersive learning experience can check out online content for free on AHC’s website, and if you visit in-person, access to both the Gatheround: Stories of Atlanta and the Veteran Voices exhibitions are both included in admission.
Sweet Auburn
Like its namesake suggests, the Apex Museum is one of the top Black history museums in Atlanta, and for added cultural significance, it’s stationed right on Auburn Avenue, smack dab between two important Black literary resources—the Auburn Avenue Research Library and For Keeps Bookstore. The Apex Museum was first opened all the way back in 1978, making it the oldest Black history museum in Atlanta. Don’t let its exterior fool you. When walking by the Killer Mike-approved institution, you may wonder if such a small entrance can lead to a worthwhile museum, but upon entering, you’ll come face to face with a wealth of knowledge and insightful information about African Americans and the Black diaspora.
Old Fourth Ward
There is no way to put this guide together—or tell the story of Atlanta’s history—without mentioning The King Center and the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. Given the cultural significance of MLK and his lifelong ties to Atlanta, the immortalized Civil Rights Movement leader played an integral role in Atlanta’s Black History. In addition to featuring the Freedom Hall exhibition space, the King Center houses the beautiful marble crypt that serves as the final resting place for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, and is within walking distance to the home where King was born.
Westside
For a tour of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, head over to the Trap Music Museum in what is called “The Bluff.” In addition to having fun activities like an escape room and a music-fueled happy hour, the Trap Music Museum preserves an incredible collection of Atlanta Hip-Hop memorabilia and illustrates the progression of the Atlanta-birthed subgenre of rap from its earliest stages with artists like T.I., Gucci Mane, and Jeezy to contemporary torchbearers like Future and Lil Baby. As evidenced by many of the aforementioned artists’ involvement in the 2020 protests, hip-hop history is intertwined with Black history, so make sure you make a visit to the Trap Music Museum sometime this Black History Month.
Downtown
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That’s why the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is such an important Atlanta attraction. In addition to documenting the injustice against African-Americans with several exhibitions throughout the year, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights has permanent exhibitions that chronicle the Civil Rights Movement. The NCCHR also has a litany of Black History Month programming that students, youth, adults, and everyone in between can access all February long.
Midtown
Although many of us spend Black History Month reflecting on past decades and eras, it’s imperative that we all remember that Black History is made every single day. That’s why a visit to the High Museum of Art is absolutely mandatory this February. Current exhibitions feature the work of Sonya Clark and an exhibit called Hear Me Now. features sixty ceramic objects created by enslaved African Americans in Edgefield, South Carolina, in the decades before the Civil War.
West End
Hammonds House Museum features nearly 500 works dating from the mid-19th century by artists from the US, Africa, and the Caribbean. What's cool about this place is that it’s an actual house, providing visitors a feeling of comfort and solace. If you're a fan of artists such as Romare Bearden, Lonnie Holley, Charly Palmer, or Shanequa Gay, their works have all been exhibited here.
Black History Tours in Atlanta
Sweet Auburn
Get the gears literally turning by embarking on a Civil Bikes Tour. The Atlanta-based historic biking and walking tour company gives participants an opportunity to get physical exercise while learning about all of the rich Black history in the Downtown, Five Points, and Sweet Auburn areas. You can book a private tour on Civil Bikes’ website, but if you and your family just want to dive in on your own, you can also opt to do its self-guided bike tour that takes you to The Zero Milepost, Hurt Park, the John Lewis mural, Atlanta Daily World, and more. To gain access to the self-guided tour, just subscribe to Civil Bikes’ email list, and from there, all you have to do is head to Five Points Marta Station and secure a HOPR bike or scooter to get started.
Various locations
In four different neighborhoods in Atlanta, The Mural Walk gives visitors the opportunity to take in fine art and support Black artists, while learning a little something about Black history along the way. Situated in historic neighborhoods like the West End and Reynoldstown, these large-scale murals also offer beautiful ways to explore the city.