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Some of the most important pieces of Black history aren’t encased in museum glass. Across the United States, Black artists and communities celebrate the history of Black America one mural, memorial, or landmark at a time. Dating back to the 1967 Wall of Respect mural in Chicago, streetside art and monuments have been a powerful means for Black Americans to celebrate our history.
These unique sights embody the spirit of our resilience, culture, and brightest leadership in cities that have historically been hotspots for activism and art. Whether it’s a statue dedicated to a civil rights pioneer or an ode to a location’s lasting impact on generations of Black Americans, these nine roadside attractions are worth the detour.
A Quest for Parity: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial, Philadelphia
Road trippers passing through Philadelphia will definitely want to pull over at the grounds of the historic City Hall to see the Octavius V. Catto Memorial. Unveiled to the public in 2017, sculptor Branly Cadet’s memorial to Catto, called “A Quest for Parity,” honors the trailblazer’s legacy as a Civil War army major, educator, and Civil Rights activist who put his life on the line for equality.
The centerpiece, a 12-foot bronze statue of Catto, references both his role in desegregating Philadelphia’s trolley cars and his fight for Black Americans’ voices to be heard in elections in the mid-1800s. A stop at the memorial is a worthy addition to your itinerary for another reason: it became the first memorial dedicated to a single Black American on the city’s public land.
National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, Alabama
While there are tons of historical sights in Alabama to fill up a road trip, the sobering National Memorial for Peace and Justice stays with you. Since opening in 2018, Black Americans have come to the memorial to reflect on the community’s history of struggle and perseverance through decades of slavery, segregation, and injustice.
Over 4,400 Black Americans who lost their lives are honored by the memorial, which is located close to the Peace and Justice Memorial Center. It stands as not just a place for reflection but also a powerful and necessary reminder of generations of resilience in a state where Confederate markers still stand.
Destination Crenshaw, Los Angeles
Rolling through the streets of Los Angeles will lead you to many artistic landmarks, but few are as dynamic and significant as Destination Crenshaw. Over a mile long along Crenshaw Boulevard, more than 100 local Black artists and craftsmen came together to create this showcase of the creativity and culture born out of Black Los Angeles.
Since being unveiled in 2024, the open-air museum has operated as one of the largest Black public art projects in the country. Project founder Marqueece Harris-Dawson imagined the space not only as a living tribute to Black creatives but also as a functional space for locals. While you’re taking in the art, enjoy the 10 on-site parks, which feature over 800 trees.
Shadow of a Face, Newark, New Jersey
It’s not easy to capture the legacy of a fierce freedom fighter, but the Shadow of the Face memorial to Harriet Tubman accomplishes exactly that. Located in Newark’s Harriet Tubman Square, the memorial was unveiled in 2023, replacing the major city’s old monument to Christopher Columbus. While taking in the breathtaking sight of the structure, you can hear a recorded narration of Tubman’s bravery provided by none other than New Jersey Native Queen Latifah.
The multimedia monument honors Tubman’s history of changing journeys across the Underground Railroad network to help people reach safe houses and abolitionists in the North. The title, “Shadow of a Face,” also pays homage to another trailblazer, poet Robert Hayden, who served as the Library of Congress’ first Black poetry consultant.
Freedom Wall, Buffalo, New York
It’s impossible to quantify all the changemakers who have emerged in the Black community throughout the nation’s history, but the Freedom Wall does a solid job of immortalizing the freedom fighters at the forefront. A massive collaboration among community leaders, residents, and artists led to the mural wall’s unveiling in 2017, which highlights the portraits and work of 28 civil rights leaders.
While the artwork itself makes these leaders an enduring presence in Buffalo, the mural is also located across the street from the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The notable landmark is the Black community’s oldest religious institution in the city, and was a safe haven in the Underground Railroad, making it a perfect spot for a pilgrimage reflecting on the Black community.
18th and Vine Black Music Mural, Kansas City, Missouri
One bucket-list stop for music lovers that opened up in 2026 is the 18th and Vine Black Music Mural. Using a wall as a massive 250-foot canvas, artists Phil “Sike Style” Shafer and J.T. Daniels centered the piece around the phrase “Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler,” or “Let the good times roll.”
The mesmerizing, hand-painted art showcases the long evolution of music from traditional African melodies to high-energy marching bands and hip-hop MCs. It’s a piece that perfectly speaks to Kansas City’s liveliness as a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
Light of Truth Ida. B Wells National Monument, Chicago, Illinois
Standing in Chicago’s South Side, the Light of Truth Monument puts a spotlight on the contributions of pioneering journalist Ida B. Wells. The historically Black Bronzeville neighborhood celebrated the unveiling of the monument in 2021, which was sculpted by Richard Hunt. It honors her impact as a courageous investigative reporter who revealed the violence against Black Americans.
To honor her legacy as an essential figure in the early fight for civil rights, including her role in founding the NAACP, the monument is located in a place that once aided generations of Chicagoans. The monument is situated on the former grounds of the Ida B. Wells Homes, cementing her legacy of helping others.
Day’s End, New York City
Strolling down Hudson River Park, you might not immediately connect David Hammons’ sculpture, completed in 2021, to the Black community. But the waterfront installation frames the sunset over the river, which was once home to a number of pier sheds that served as transformative spaces for the arts and queer communities. The structure was dedicated to the people of New York and its marginalized communities to reflect on the site’s important history.
Dew Drop Inn, New Orleans
Black creatives have influenced music across the country, but the Dew Drop Inn is a historic venue that needs to be experienced. This isn’t the first time the iconic performance space has appeared on a travel list; it was included as a must-see in the “Negro Motorist Green Book.”
Stepping into the venue is like stepping back into history. The spot originally operated as a barbershop in 1939 before growing into a hub for musicians and performers. Over the decades, musicians who would go down in history were hosted in the Dew Drop Inn, including Ray Charles, Fats Domino, and Little Richard, who first improvised a version of his famous song “Tutti Frutti” on stage. Now, that legacy carries on with a jam session with modern artists.
