African American Heritage Tour

Embark on a two-hour walking tour that traces the journey of influential Marylanders and explores their impact both nationally and internationally. In partnership with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, this award-winning tour, recognized with a “Heritage Award” by the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, begins at Market House Park, located across from Annapolis City Dock—where slave ships arrived 300 years ago. The tour features the Alex Haley statue, honoring the author of Roots and the legacy of his ancestor, Kunta Kinte. The walk continues uphill through key historical sites, including the State House and a statue of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Along the way, you’ll learn about notable Marylanders like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, and your period-costumed guide will emphasize the role of the Underground Railroad in the Chesapeake Bay region. In colonial times, both enslaved and free Black labor were foundational to the tobacco economy. By the 19th century, Maryland was home to the largest population of free African Americans in the country. Today, Maryland continues to thrive, largely due to the significant contributions of its African American residents. A portion of the proceeds, 20%, goes to the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation.