Kentucky Has a New African American Heritage Path With 50 Websites Celebrating Black Historical past

The state of Kentucky launched an African American Heritage Path in the present day, providing guests almost 50 major websites and a number of other further areas that convey centuries of Black historical past to life. From museums and monuments to historic church buildings and colleges, the path offers a complete have a look at the people and communities who helped to form Kentucky’s historical past and tradition. 

Timed to coincide with Juneteenth celebrations throughout Kentucky, the path formally launched on June 16, 2025. “The path is a bridge between training and exploration that elevates voices which have too usually been disregarded of the broader historic narrative,” Governor Andy Beshear instructed Journey + Leisure. “By positioning these culturally important websites as tourism locations, the path stimulates native economies, helps small companies, and creates job alternatives in communities whose tales should be heard and celebrated.”

Guests can start their exploration on the Kentucky Middle for African American Heritage, which hosts weekly occasions and serves as a useful resource for supporting the state’s Black group.

One of the vital well-liked websites alongside the path is the Muhammad Ali Middle in Louisville. Devoted to the boxing legend and humanitarian, the middle explores Ali’s Kentucky roots, influence on civil rights, and international humanitarian efforts. The middle can also be an academic hub, selling values similar to respect, confidence, and dedication—ideas Ali championed all through his life.

One other important cease, the Search Museum, shares highly effective, usually missed tales of slavery and the search for freedom, equality, and justice. By means of academic displays housed in seven historic buildings throughout two Nationwide Register Districts, guests are inspired to hunt information, reality, and understanding. The museum operates two websites: the Bibb Home, specializing in slavery and emancipation till 1865, and The Backside, highlighting the publish–Civil Battle resilience and civil rights efforts of a group formed by segregation and racial injustice.

Additional south, Camp Nelson Nationwide Historic Monument in Jessamine County tells the story of African American Union troopers in the course of the Civil Battle. This former army provide depot grew to become a recruitment and coaching heart for African American troops, a lot of whom introduced their households searching for freedom. The location features a museum and interpretive trails.

Different notable path areas embody the Portal 31 Coal Mine in Lynch, which highlights the contributions of Black miners within the Appalachian coal business, and Simmons School of Kentucky, one of many state’s oldest traditionally Black faculties. In Louisville, Roots 101 African American Museum affords immersive displays that hint African American historical past from Africa to fashionable America.

Path websites will probably be accessible on Apple Maps and Kentucky Tourism’s web site. For extra data, go to the Kentucky Tourism web site at kentuckytourism.com.