The Midwest Destinations

Illinois

1. Du Sable Marker, Du Sable Cabin Replica, 

    Du Sable Museum or African-American history and Art, Chicago

    - Founded in 1961 by teacher and art historian Dr. Margaret Burroughs 

    and other leading Chicago citizens.

    Address: 740 East 56th Place Chicago, IL 60637-1495

    Phone Number: 773-947-0600

    Website: www.dusablemuseum.org

Indiana

2. Levi Coffin House, Fountain City

    - A part of the legendary Underground Railroad for fleeing slaves of pre-Civil War days.

    Address: 113 North US Highway 27 Fountain City, IN 47341

    Phone Number: 765-847-2432

    Website: www.waynet.org

3. Freetown Village of the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis

    - The town of Freetown Village is a symbolic community representing 

    many of the predominantly African-American settlements scattered throughout 

    Indiana during the post-Civil War years.

    Address: 625 Indiana Avenue, Suite 200 Indianapolis IN 46202

    Phone Number: 317-631-1870

    Website: www.freetown.org

4. Madame Walker Urban Life Center, Indianapolis

    - Was the center of entertainment, business and pride for the city’s 

    African-American community from the 1920s to the 1950’s.

    Address: 617 Indiana Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46202

    Phone Number: 317-236-2099

    Website: www.walkertheatre.com

Iowa

5. Fort Des Moines, Des Moines

    - The www.fortdesmoines.org  officer candidate class for African American men in 1917,

    and the establishment of the first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps                                                                 

    (WAAC's) in 1942.

    Address: 75 East Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa 50315

    Phone Number: 515-282-8060

    Website: www.fortdesmoines.org

Michigan

6. Sojourner Truth Memorial, Battle Creek

    - Sojourner Truth was perhaps the most famous African-American woman in 19th 

    century America. For over forty years she traveled the country as a forceful and                    

    passionate advocate for the dispossessed, using her quick wit and fearless 

    tongue to fight for human rights.

    Phone Number: 269-965-2613

    Website: www.sojournertruth.org

7. Dr. Ossian Sweet House, Detroit

    - The home of black physician Ossian Sweet became the site of a 

    racial incident that resulted in a nationally publicized murder trial.

    Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL

    Phone Number: 312-443-3600

    Website: www.detroit1701.org

8. Motown Museum, Detroit

    - Founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, the Museum's 

    mission is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Corporation and to educate 

    and motivate people.

    Address: 2648 W Grand Blvd Detroit, Michigan 48208

    Phone Number: 313-875-2264

    Website: www.motownmuseum.com

9. Museum of African American History, Detroit

    - The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the 

    worlds largest institution dedicated to the African American experience.

    Address: 315 East Warren Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1443

    Phone Number: 313-494-5800

    Website: www.thewright.org

10. National Museum of Tuskegee Airmen, Detroit

    - The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who 

    enlisted to become Americas first black military airmen, at a time 

    when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, 

    skill, courage and patriotism.

    Address: 6325 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI

    Phone Number: 313-843-8849

    Website: www.tuskegeeairmenmuseum.com

Minnesota

11. Fort Snelling State Historical Park, Minneapolis-St. Paul

    -  For hundreds of years before Europeans arrived, generations of Dakota people 

    lived in villages along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers that meet in 

    Fort Snelling State Park.

    Address: 101 Snelling Lake Road St. Paul, MN 55111

    Phone Number: 612-725-2389

    Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us

Ohio

12. Stowe House, Cincinnati

    - The Beechers and Stowes were some of the most well-known families of the

    19th century and were involved in important social movements of their day.

    Address: 2950 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45206

    Number: 513-751-0651

    Website: www.stowehousecincy.org

13. Taft Museum, Cincinnati

    - Is the oldest domestic wooden structure in situated locally and is considered one of the

   finest examples of Federal architecture in the Palladian style in the country.    

    Address: 316 Pike Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-4214

    Phone Number: 513-241-0343

    Website: www.taftmuseum.org

14. African American Museum, Cleveland

    - The African American Museum is a place of learning and a place of 

    experiencing African American culture in the heart of Cleveland.

    Address: 1765 Crawford Ave.--Cleveland, OH 44106

    Phone Number: 216-791-1700

    Website: www.aamcleveland.org

15. Karamu House, Cleveland

    - With foresight and vision, Russell Jelliffe and Rowena Woodham set out to 

    establish a common ground where people of different races, religions, social and

    economic backgrounds could come together to seek and share common ventures.

    Address: 2355 E. 89th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44106

    Phone Number: 216-795-7070

    Website: www.karamuhouse.org

16. Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Dayton

    - Paul Laurence Dunbar was the first African-American to gain national 

    eminence as a poet.

    Address: 219 North Paul Laurence Dunbar Street Dayton, OH 45402-6502

    Phone Number: 937-224-7061

    Website: www.dunbarsite.org

17. Rankin House, Ripley

    - The Rankin House, located on Liberty Hill which overlooks the Ohio River 

    and Ripley, is one of the better known sites which assisted in the Underground 

    Railroad efforts. Built in 1828.

    Address: 6152 Rankin Road Ripley, OH 45167

    Phone Number: 937-392-1627

    Website: www.ripleyohio.net

18. Wyandotte Indian Missionary Church, Upper Sandusky

    - The church was built in 1824, under the supervision of the Rev. James B. Finley.

    Address: 200 E Church Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

    Phone Number: 419-294-4841

    Website: www.wyandotte-nation.org

19. National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce University, 

      Col. Charles Young House, Wilberforce

    - This museum aims to educate the public about African American history 

    and culture from African origins to the present through a variety of programs.

    Address: 1350 Brush Row Road Wilberforce, OH 45384

    Phone Number: 937-376-4944

    Website: www.ohsweb.ohiohistory.org

20. Under Ground Railroad, Cincinnati

    - During the 1800s, estimates suggest that more than 100,000 enslaved people 

    sought freedom through the Underground Railroad.

    Address: 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH

    Phone Number: 513-333-7500

    Website: www.freedomcenter.org

Wisconsin

21. Tallman Restorations, Milton House, Janesville-Milton

    - The Milton House is the first poured grout building in the United States 

    and Wisconsin's only documented Underground Railroad site.

    Address: Post Office Box 650 Janesville, WI 53547-0650

    Phone Number: 608-757-1039

    Website: www.jeffrisfoundation.org

22. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison

    - Educates and Teaches you about Wisconsin History

    Address: 816 State Street Madison WI 53706

    Phone Number: 608-264-6400

    Website: www.wisconsinhistory.org