Get even more info on how to support Black-owned restaurants and more with the Huntsville, AL Black Travel Guide >>>

Take a Tour

Rocket City Civil Rights

The Rocket City Civil Rights Driving Tour highlights areas of significance to the civil rights era in Huntsville. See sites like the Fifth Avenue School, the first public school in the state of Alabama to integrate, Oakwood University, where Dr. Martin Luther King spoke during his visit to Huntsville in 1962, and other points of interest rich in cultural heritage.

The tour was created in partnership with the Alabama Humanities Foundation and the Historic Huntsville Foundation, with a mission to capture, document, and share oral histories of the successful, non-violent civil rights movement in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

Weeden House and Garden History Tours (Free the First Week of February 2025)

Weeden House Tour Schedule Weeden house tour

Weeden House Museum offers free and extended tour hours in honor of Black History Month. Reservations are required. Email theweedenhouse@att.net to reserve your spot.

 

Celebrate the Six Black Women Who Made History in Alabama

Black Women Voters

Following the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, a transformative wave swept through Alabama as over 100,000 women, including 1,373 from Madison County, registered to vote. Among them, six remarkable Black women—Mary Wood Binford, Ellen Scruggs Brandon, India Leslie Herndon, Lou Bertha Johnson, Dora Fackler Lowery, and Celia Horton Love—etched their names into history. You can pay tribute to these heroes by visiting the historic marker placed in their honor at Councill High Memorial Park. This marker commemorates their courage in claiming the right to vote at the Madison County Courthouse during the era of Jim Crow Alabama. Living in a community grappling with the rise of white supremacy, these women navigated a challenging landscape to exercise their political and civil rights, persisting against the discriminatory barriers upheld by the Supreme Court.

Councill High Memorial Park

620 St Clair Ave SW

 

Visit days past at the Huntsville Revisited Museum 

Huntsville Revisited Historic Black Business

Explore Huntsville Revisited, a cultural gem showcasing a varied assortment of unique artifacts, photographs, and narratives that capture the history of Huntsville and its integral events, places, and families. Mr. William Hampton, the museum's curator, has crafted a treasure trove of Huntsville's heritage. For all things related to Huntsville's history, Mr. Hampton is your go-to guide and friend. A trip to the museum is an immersive experience, and strolling through while Mr. Hampton brings the stories to life adds an extra layer to your visit that you will never forget. 

Huntsville Revisited Museum 

2007 N. Memorial Parkway, Suite O

 

Experience life as a student at a Rosenwald Schoolhouse - Burritt on the Mountain 

Burritt School

To commemorate Black History Month, celebrate “African Americans in Education and the Arts” with Burritt on the Mountain. Experience what it was like to be a student at a Rosenwald Schoolhouse in the early 20th century with hands-on activities including an African American folk-art craft and a themed scavenger hunt throughout the Historic Park. During this event, delve into the life and legacy of Booker T. Washington, the reformer, and educator who established what is now Tuskegee University.

Event Details 

February 8, 2025, 10 am - 4 pm
Burritt on the Mountain - 3101 Burritt Dr SE

Ongoing activities:

Make your own paper ugly jug—Gardiner Cabin
Tin punch craft—Industrial Room of Rosenwald Schoolhouse
Folk art scavenger hunt—Historic Park

This event is included in general admission and is free for Burritt members. Children must be accompanied by an adult to participate.

 

Discover New Artists

A Program in Conjunction with the exhibition Alicia Henry + Fahamu Pecou

Huntsville Museum of Art hosts a compelling discussion featuring renowned artist Dr. Fahamu Pecou, esteemed art historian Dr. Cheryl Finley, and curator Michael J. Ewing.

Moderated by acclaimed scholar, author and curator Dr. Bridget R. Cooks, this dynamic conversation explores identity, creativity, and cultural resonance in conjunction with the exhibition Alicia Henry + Fahamu Pecou. 

The Alicia Henry + Fahamu Pecou exhibition features two contemporary artists whose works delve into the complexities of identity while offering unique perspectives and insights into the experiences of being Black in America.

Alicia Henry is known for her intricate textile sculptures and mixed-media installations, while Fahamu Pecou is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, performances and multimedia installations.

 

Savor Art Exhibition

Savor: Experiencing Black Joy and Resilience

A Celebration of Black Mental Health, Joy and Resilience. The Curated Gallery is proud to announce a collaboration exhibition with 57 North Hampton that will spotlight Black Mental health, joy, resilience, and the power of community.

Based on the quote "Joy is an act of resistance" by African American poet Toi Derricotte, this exhibit aims to present and promote savoring as a healthy coping strategy. It will provide education on the practice and practical ways to apply it. While visual art will be the main vehicle, we will also promote this theme via panel discussions, artist talks, dance, sound baths, and more.

Framing The Future

Framing the Future: A Black Photographers' Gallery

In celebration of Black History Month, step backstage for Framing the Future: A Black Photographers’ Gallery, a showcase of talent, creativity, and vision. Featuring the work of local Black photographers Dokk Savage, Neville Simpson, Miles K. Whitmore, and Xavier Isaac Adams, this gallery shines a light on the narratives and artistry shaping our community today and tomorrow.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, February 21, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Enjoy refreshments, an electrifying soundtrack curated by DJ Lisha, and the rare opportunity to hear the stories behind each piece directly from the individuals behind the lens.

enjoy music

Showers of Hope

Join the Huntsville Music Office and Huntsville Parks and Recreation for Showers of Hope, a free community choral concert in celebration of Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. at the Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Recreation Center.

This special event will highlight local vocal ensembles, featuring performances from the Lee High School Choir (Small Ensemble), Jemison High School, Alabama A&M Choir (Small Ensemble), and members of the Oakwood University’s Aeolians.

*Pre-show reception and seating begins at 5 p.m. *Choral Program begins at 6 p.m. 

 

Visit a Historical Site

Councill High Memorial Park 

William Hooper Councill

Where once stood Huntsville's first school for African American students is now a beautiful and welcoming park. Walk in the footsteps of Councill High alum and pay tribute to a small portion of Dr. William Hoopper Councill's legacy. Read more about this park here.
 

Councill High Memorial Park 

620 St Clair Ave SW

 

10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier's Memorial

Buffalo Soldier Monument

Meet the Buffalo Soldiers - the resilient 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 24th and 25th Infantry troops, nicknamed for their unmatched strength and bravery, notably in the Spanish-American War in Cuba.

10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier's Memorial

2800 Poplar Ave NW

 

There are plenty of ways to celebrate African American heritage year-round in Huntsville. Stroll through historic Glenwood Cemetery, pay your respects at the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial, and take in the stunning, life-like portraiture of African Americans at the Weeden House Museum and Garden

For more information on multicultural events in Huntsville, follow along with the City of Huntsville Multicultural Affairs Office.

Know of other Black History Month events happening in Huntsville? Share in the comments!

 

 

Black History Month Pin