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Black history has deep roots in Kansas. From our admittance to the Union as a free-state, to radical changes during the Civil Rights movement, to growing influential leaders, Kansas has been at the forefront of America's Black history.
Explore Nicodemus, the first (and only remaining) all-Black settlement west of the Mississippi. Or learn more about the Brown vs. Board National Historic Site, an official stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. This site tells the story of the 20 young children who fought for the desegregation of schools in the nation. Famed photographer, musician, author, and film director, Gordon Parks grew up in Ft. Scott. Today, the Gordon Parks Museum continues to tell his story. These stops are just the beginning. Plan an adventure below, from historic sites to Black-owned businesses in Kansas.
Jim Sands, President of the Black History Trail of Geary County / Photography by Nick Krug A county project to commemorate almost a dozen locations opens interconnected stories across the region In…
Director. Photographer. Poet. Writer. Musician. Composer. Artist. Kansan. Gordon Parks dedicated his life to combating racism and poverty through art. The lessons he learned on his family farm in Ft. Scott, Kansas helped him to become the first Black photojournalist on staff at LIFE magazine and the first African American to direct a major motion picture.
The Gordon Parks Museum highlights the life and work of Kansas-born photographer Gordon Parks. Exhibits, personal artifacts, and iconic…
The fall of 1968 in Fort Scott, Kansas, marked a historical time. This was when the first major Hollywood motion picture was directed by a…
Nicodemus is located on Highway 24, halfway between Webster Lake and Hill City. Established in 1877, Nicodemus is the only remaining town…
The museum is currently closed, tours of the Quindaro Museum and Overlook are available by appointment only. Housed in the historic Vernon…
Official Boyhood Home of the Agricultural Scientist, George Washington Carver, 1880-1884. Visit the premier George W. Carver Display.
The story of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in public schools, is one of hope and courage. When the people…
View memorabilia from General Colin Powell, Buffalo Soldiers, uniforms, freedom papers from former slaves, photographs, items from the old…
The Kansas African American Museum is a regional arts and cultural museum dedicated to the education, identification, acquisition, research…
The Gordon Parks Museum highlights the life and work of Kansas-born photographer Gordon Parks. Exhibits, personal artifacts, and iconic…
Outstanding museum with two floors of climate-controlled displays and research facility. Exhibits interpret the rich history of the town…
The Avenue of Murals Project includes eight outstanding murals in a four-block long corridor along Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City…
The Buffalo Soldier statue/monument is located on Fort Leavenworth and was initiated by General Colin Powell, and was dedicated in 1992 to…
Located at 18th & Quindaro, this community-funded mural was created by Kansas City artists and father-daughter duo Lucky and Anita…
This memorial wall is constructed of native limestone and serves as a backdrop for a 9-foot bronze sculpted statue of a Buffalo Soldier by…
The Brown V. Board Mural is located across the street from the Brown V. Board National Historical Site and depicts the fight for equality…
The fall of 1968 in Fort Scott, Kansas, marked a historical time. This was when the first major Hollywood motion picture was directed by a…
Hattie McDaniel, born in Wichita, made history as the first Black actor to win an Academy Award. Learn more about this Hollywood legend at a…
Nicodemus is located on Highway 24, halfway between Webster Lake and Hill City. Established in 1877, Nicodemus is the only remaining town…
A historical marker featuring George Washington Carver, an African American and one of America's greatest scientists. He revolutionized…
The story of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal segregation in public schools, is one of hope and courage. When the people…
Explore the African American History Trail in Kansas as it visits sites throughout the state. The sites include: Nicodemus, African American Township; The Buffalo Soldiers, stationed at Ft. Leavenworth; Ft.Riley, and…
1864-1943
George Washington Carver moved around throughout his life but spent many of his years in Fort Scott, Olathe, and eventually finishing high school in Minneapolis. Carver discovered and advocated for newly improved farming methods and crop rotation strategies (mostly involving nitrogen restoration). Not only were his findings incredibly useful for the practice of agriculture, but they were also instrumental in our modern understanding of food, health, and nutrition.
1901-1967
Langston Hughes found himself moving around a lot as a child but was mainly raised in Lawrence. Known for his "jazz poetry", he also made headway as a playwright, columnist, novelist, and social activist. Hughes took a major leading role in a movement now known as the Harlem renaissance, where a surge in African American arts and literature flourished in the 1920s. Although a controversial figure to many, Hughes is still considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
1893-1952
Hattie McDaniel was born in 1893 in Wichita. She became the first Black actor to win an Oscar, for her portrayal of 'Mammy' in 'Gone With the Wind.' She continued to build a storied career in Hollywood as an actress, singer-songwriter and comedian.
1985-present
Janelle Monáe Robinson was born in Kansas City in 1985. She is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and actress. Monáe is an eight-time Grammy nominee, and stars in films including 'Hidden Figures', 'Moonlight', 'Antebellum', 'Knives Out 2', and 'Harriet'.
1978 - Present
Terence Newman is a native of Salina and attended Salina Central High School. Newman was an outstanding multi-sport athlete and excelled in numerous positions within the sport of football. As one of the top in-state prospects for Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats, he eventually went on to win the Jim Thorpe award for top defensive back in the nation his senior season. Newman was highly sought after for the 2003 NFL draft and was selected 5th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent most of his professional career.
Born near Fort Scott in 1912. Became the first African-American photographer to work at magazines like Life and Vogue, and the first to work for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration. Parks was also the first Black director and producer of major motion pictures, including 'The Learning Tree' and 'Shaft
1968-Present
Barry Sanders was born in Wichita and played high school football at Wichita North. He is considered by some to have been one of the most elusive and skilled running backs to have ever played professional football. His stellar college career for Oklahoma State earned him 34 newly set Division I FBS records, including the impressive 37 rushing touchdowns in a single season. Sanders went on to spend 9 seasons with the Detroit Lions, where, in that relatively short time frame accumulated over 15,000 rushing yards over his career.
1983-Present
Wayne Simien was born in Leavenworth. Simien grew up a big fan of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team in the nearby city of Lawrence. Simien was arguably one of the best high school basketball players in Kansas history and was impressively recruited to play for KU. His time at KU was well spent, having made two final fours and obtaining one national runner-up, Simien also managed to average a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds per game his senior season. Though his time in the NBA was short-lived due to injuries, Simien managed to claim an NBA title with the 2006 Miami Heat.
1983-Present
Darren Sproles is a former NFL running back and return specialist that grew up in Olathe and played high school football for Olathe North. Sproles was an excellent high school athlete and was recruited to play for the Kansas State Wildcats. He finished fifth in Heisman voting during his junior season after leading the FBS with just under 2000 rushing yards. Despite his shorter stature, Sproles was highly sought after by many NFL teams as he was drafted in the fourth round by the San Diego Chargers. He currently holds the record for most all-purpose yards in a single season with 2,696 and touchdowns caught by a person under 5'7" with 32.
1959-present
Kevin Willmott grew up in Junction City and is an Academy Award Winning American film director and screenwriter. Willmott's films, such as Ninth Street, C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America, and Bunker Hill are known for focusing on black issues and struggles in the US. He also directed the movie Jayhawkers where he told the story of Wilt Chamberlain, Phog Allen, and the 1956-1957 KU men's basketball team. Kevin Wilmott is also a professor of film at the University of Kansas.
1959-Present
Lynette Woodard was born in Wichita and played high school basketball for Wichita North, where she helped her team win two state titles. She spent her college career at the University of Kansas and earned her place as one of the most respected KU basketball alumni. Woodard is also widely regarded as perhaps the greatest female college basketball player of all time. Her all-time scoring record of 3,649 points is still standing despite it not being official in the NCAA history books due to her career occurring before the NCAA sponsored women's athletics.
Kansas’ role in the fight for freedom is well established. The Bleeding Kansas moniker accurately describes the era in the state’s history where pro-slavery and abolitionist activists clashed. This time in…
The breadth and beauty of Asian culture can be found across the state in unique ways. Find serenity in the traditional Japanese garden…
Kansas’ reputation as the wheat state began when Russian immigrants brought hard winter wheat with them to their new home.
Celebrate the rich influence of Hispanic and Latino cultures in Kansas dating back to before statehood when Mexicans came through the…
Kansas is home to indigenous populations whose history is embedded in the very soil of the state. Learn about the culture, traditions, and…