The Carolinas hold centuries of Black history — in their museums, their campuses, and the communities that built them. These are the places worth knowing.
Know Before You Go
From the Reconstruction-era Penn Center to Charlotte's Harvey B. Gantt Center, these institutions don't just preserve history — they celebrate it. Plan your visit with intention.
Art & Culture
ArtCultureFree Admission
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
Charlotte, NC
Named for Charlotte's first Black mayor, the Gantt Center is a world-class institution celebrating African American art, history, and culture. Rotating exhibitions, a permanent collection, and community programming make it a must-visit in Uptown Charlotte.
Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm
Adults $10 · Students $8 · Under 5 Free
Cocoa Tip: Check their calendar before you go — the Gantt hosts some of the best live events in Charlotte, from jazz nights to panel discussions.
Heritage Site
Gullah HeritageHistoryLandmark
Penn Center National Historic Landmark
St. Helena Island, SC
Founded in 1862 as one of the first schools for freed enslaved people in the US, Penn Center is the spiritual heart of Gullah Geechee culture. The York W. Bailey Museum tells the full story of the Sea Islands from enslavement through the Civil Rights Movement.
Mon–Sat 9am–4pm
Museum $7 · Grounds Free
Cocoa Tip: Visit during Heritage Days in November — the largest Gullah Geechee cultural celebration in the country.
History & Heritage
HistoryBlack Wall StreetCommunity
Hayti Heritage Center
Durham, NC
Located in the historic St. Joseph's AME Church, the Hayti Heritage Center sits at the heart of Durham's legendary Black Wall Street. The center hosts art exhibitions, film screenings, and cultural events celebrating the legacy of the Hayti district.
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 10am–3pm
Free · Donations Welcome
Cocoa Tip: Walk Parrish Street before or after your visit — the plaques and murals tell the story of Durham's extraordinary Black entrepreneurial history.
History
HistoryLandmarkEssential
Old Slave Mart Museum
Charleston, SC
The only known surviving building used as a slave auction gallery in South Carolina. A sobering, essential visit — the museum documents the domestic slave trade and the lives of the enslaved people sold here, with artifacts, oral histories, and archival records.
Mon–Sat 9am–5pm
Adults $8 · Children $5
Cocoa Tip: Allow at least 90 minutes. The weight of this place deserves your full attention.
Pillars of Excellence
HBCUs of the Carolinas
The Carolinas are home to some of the most storied Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation. Whether you're an alum, a prospective student, or a curious traveler — these campuses are worth a visit.
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
1891
Home of the Greensboro Four — the students who launched the 1960 sit-in movement that changed America. The largest HBCU in the US.
Notable Alumni
Jesse Jackson, Ronald McNair, Clarence Avant
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
1910
The first publicly supported liberal arts college for Black Americans. Located in the heart of Durham's historic Black community.
Notable Alumni
Nneka Ogwumike, Frankie Beverly, Harvey Gantt
Spelman College
Atlanta, GA (regional pride)
1881
While technically in Georgia, Spelman draws heavily from the Carolinas and is a point of pride for the entire region's Black community.
Notable Alumni
Stacey Abrams, Esther Rolle, Alice Walker
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC
1896
Site of the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre — a pivotal and often overlooked moment in the Civil Rights Movement. A campus of deep resilience.
Notable Alumni
Jim Clyburn, Eartha Kitt, Ernest Finney Jr.
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC
1869
South Carolina's oldest HBCU, founded just four years after the Civil War. Known for its strong liberal arts tradition and community engagement.
Notable Alumni
Numerous SC state legislators and community leaders
Shoulders We Stand On
Notable Figures from the Carolinas
Nina Simone
Music & ActivismTryon, NC
Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, NC, Nina Simone became one of the most powerful voices in jazz, soul, and the Civil Rights Movement. Her childhood home is now a historic site.
Harvey B. Gantt
Politics & ArchitectureCharleston, SC
The first Black student admitted to Clemson University (1963) and Charlotte's first Black mayor (1983–1987). An architect and civil rights pioneer whose legacy shapes Charlotte to this day.
Josephine Baker
Entertainment & ActivismSt. Louis, MO (SC roots)
Though born in Missouri, Baker's South Carolina roots run deep. She became the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture and a decorated French Resistance spy.
James Brown
MusicBarnwell, SC
The Godfather of Soul was born in Barnwell, SC. His influence on funk, soul, hip-hop, and popular music is immeasurable. A statue in Augusta, GA honors him just across the state line.
Shirley Chisholm
PoliticsBrooklyn, NY (SC heritage)
The first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to run for a major party's presidential nomination. Her family's South Carolina roots shaped her fierce advocacy for the South's Black communities.
John Coltrane
MusicHamlet, NC
One of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, Coltrane was born in Hamlet, NC. The John Coltrane Center in High Point, NC preserves his legacy and hosts annual jazz events.
Carry the Culture With You
Download our free Cultural Carolina guide — museum hours, HBCU campus maps, and a self-guided heritage trail through both states.
