The African American Heritage Trail is an extensive tour of the city that passes through nearly every neighborhood and touches on important places, people, and heritage sites related to African American history. There are more than 200 different designated sites along the trial from Fredrick Douglas's house to the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.

The trail touches many important aspects of African American history from slavery and abolition literature, art, and music. See Howard Theater which was the hub of African American musical expression, having Duke Ellington play there and many stars from the 30's, 40's, and 50's get there starts there.

A free self-guided tour book for the African American Heritage trail is available at the different sites around the city listed below:

• Cultural Tourism DC, Lobby of 1250 H Street, NW
• DC Historic Preservation Office, 801 N. Capitol Street, NE, #3000
• DC Visitor Information Center, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• Washingtonian Division, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW
• Kiplinger Library at City Museum (Historical Society of Washington, D.C., 801 K Street, NW
• African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, 1200 U St., NW
• Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort Dr., SE
• Black Fashion Museum, 2007 Vermont Avenue
• Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW
• Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, 1816 12th Street, NW

Customizable Directions