TRY A SELF-GUIDED CITY TOUR
HISTORIC PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
Billie Holiday statue by sculptor James Earl Reid.
Baltimore’ s Pennsylvania Avenue is a historic African American neighborhood that became known as one of the nation’ s stellar African American entertainment districts. So much so that the Baltimore National Heritage Area had been offering walking tours of this area( in addition to others) until it paused these organized events in 2020 due to the pandemic. Today, as staff hope to reopen tours later this year, you can learn more about virtual tour offerings on the organization’ s website. Or, if you’ re up to it, try a selfdirected and socially distanced walk. If you venture out, you’ ll be able to stroll past standout residential and church architecture and see the historic avenue for yourself.
You can also plan your own adventure by plotting out a few must-see places around town on your own and setting out for a quick stroll.
TIP
Download the“ GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K + Cities” app to your mobile phone and choose the“ Baltimore African American Heritage Walking Tour” if you’ d rather let someone else guide your experience. On this four-hour narrated tour, you can see eight attractions in all, including the Lewis Museum, which appears earlier on our list. But you’ ll also see the Thurgood Marshall Monument, Billie Holiday Monument and more.
LET HISTORY LIVE ON
Finally, no matter what you choose, please understand: We don’ t have to end our recognition of Black history after the 28 days of February have passed. We can continue to appreciate this historic city and join together to celebrate what it has brought us. And what it continues to bring. There will be more work to do, and experiences to have. Both can begin here. VB
BLACK HISTORY
34 BALTIMORE. ORG
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