The city of Baltimore is buzzing with excitement as the Ravens prepare to square off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII this Sunday. It’s the birds’ second Super Bowl appearance – they won the franchise’s lone title in 2001. But Super Bowl mania isn’t the only reason to visit B’more. February is Black History Month, and the history of African-Americans is as rich and storied as the city itself. With a plethora of events taking place, you can be sure to find entertainment, and knowledge, during your trip.
This month, Baltimore will celebrate black history with art exhibitions, dramatic performances, musical concerts, tours, and more. Centerstage, the state theater of Maryland, is staging a production of The Mountaintop. The scene is The Lorraine Hotel in April 1968, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. unwinds and prepares, shortly before a hotel maid offers both a diversion and a new perspective. The show is one hour and 30 minutes without an intermission, and will run through February 28. Additionally, the Frederick Douglas-Issac Myers Maritime Park Museum is showcasing a conversation between two titans of black history, Frederick Douglas and Harriet Tubman. Tickets to the performance are $15. Group tours are available by reservation with a minimum of 40 people.
A man’s got to have a code, and many black soldiers abided by their own when they enlisted to serve in the war efforts of 1812. The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is hosting tours that highlight the tremendous roles of African Americans in the War of 1812, stopping at historical sites scattering throughout the city. You can also take a peak into the lives of African American sailors with the Black Sailors in Navy Blue exhibit aboard the USS Constellation docked in Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor. The tour, scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays in February, chronicles the history of tens of thousands of African American men who took to the seas to during the Civil War.
Fans of music and art can explore the evolution of African American music with Musical Roots: From Africa to America, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The program, held on Feb. 27, takes a look at the beginnings of jazz, blues, and beyond. The Geppis Entertainment Museum just opened an exhibit showcasing the vast talent and innovation from black artists working in the comic book industry, and features works seen in powerhouses DC and Marvel. Children will delight in an exhibit of the work of award-winning illustrator Brian Collier at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.
