Discover New Orleans’ Black Heritage: A Family Guide
Travel influencer Monet Hambrick and her family recently visited New Orleans to experience the rich culture and heritage that lives within the city. Known online as The Traveling Child, the family spent five days exploring family-friendly activities, including the city’s Black history. Here’s a look at how you too can explore New Orleans’ Black history with your own little ones.
Tour Tremé
As one of the oldest historically Black neighborhoods in the country, Tremé is rich in Black-owned restaurants, museums and historical sites. Take a walking tour to best experience the neighborhood and learn about Black history. Then visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum, dedicated to Mardi Gras Indians and Black Carnival traditions, and the New Orleans African American Museum, dedicated to telling the stories of Black New Orleanians. Consider dining at Dooky Chase or one of the other Black-owned restaurants in the area.
Visit Congo Square
Located in Armstrong Park, Congo Square is an open space where enslaved Africans and free Blacks gathered for meetings, an open market and dance. Filled with statues and historical markers, Congo Square is a great place for a picnic or a rest stop on your journey through NOLA’s Black history.
See the Whitney Plantation
The Whitney Plantation is unique in that it is the only plantation museum in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on sharing the history of the lives of enslaved people. Located less than an hour drive from New Orleans, the Whitney is worth the trip. Take a guided tour via the Whitney Plantation app, which is appropriate for all ages.
Visit Studio BE
Studio BE is a 35,000 sq ft warehouse showcasing the work of Brandan “BMike” Odums that highlights Black history in New Orleans and beyond. Oversize, colorful contemporary art drapes over the massive walls and throughout the gallery. Studio BE reflects the current moment and is a must-see for those interested in Black history or current events.
For even more ideas of how to explore Black history in New Orleans, check out our Black History Itinerary. For more on how to experience New Orleans with children, check out The Traveling Child’s Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids.
