Across Dallas, a vibrant collection of historic churches, pioneering schools, and world-class museums proudly preserve the community’s undertold Black history and activism. These eight sites offer a remarkable window into the resilience, culture, and enduring legacy of African Americans in North Texas.
African American Museum Dallas
This institution houses a premier collection of African artifacts, folk art, furniture, and decorative pieces detailing the African American experience. The museum breathes life into this heritage through compelling, ongoing exhibitions like Facing the Rising Sun, which illuminates the history of a former North Dallas Freedman's Town, and the Billy R. Allen Folk Art Collection, one of the nation's largest collections of Black folk art featuring more than 500 objects. Beyond its galleries, the museum hosts special exhibits, lectures, workshops, and music festivals designed to educate and inspire the public.
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
In 1922, Booker T. Washington High School opened to replace the 1892 Dallas Colored High School. During the era of segregation, it was the only high school available to Black students in the Dallas County area, which frequently led to overcrowding. Following integration in 1976, the school transformed into a renowned magnet institution for artistically gifted students. Today, it remains a cultural cornerstone, hosting community events and performances throughout the year..
Deep Ellum Historic District
While known today as an eclectic district with art galleries, street murals, and concert venues, Deep Ellum was originally a thriving residential and commercial hub for Black residents. During the 1920s, legendary blues musicians like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bessie Smith, and Sam “Lightnin” Hopkins regularly filled Deep Ellum’s clubs with music that shaped American culture.
Freedman's Cemetery Memorial
Established in 1869, Freedman's Cemetery served as a burial ground for formerly enslaved people. Vandalism forced the cemetery to close in the 1920s, and a decade later, the construction of an expressway and intersection destroyed most of the grave markers and plaques. When the city planned to expand the Central Expressway in the late 1980s, passionate community members mobilized to halt construction. Thanks to their activism, more than a thousand gravesites were carefully excavated and relocated. Today, the perimeter features sculptures and poetry to honor and commemorate those originally laid to rest here.
Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this home served as the headquarters for Civil Rights leader Juanita J. Craft for 35 years. Now a museum, it honors her fierce dedication to political change. After joining the NAACP in 1935, Craft established 185 rural chapters across the state. In the 1950s, she spearheaded crucial demonstrations to desegregate the University of Texas School of Law, North Texas State University, and the State Fair of Texas. At age 73, she was elected to two terms as a Dallas city councilwoman, focusing her efforts on improving the status of Hispanic and Native American communities. For her lifelong commitment, she received the Linz Award, Dallas' highest civic honor. Her legacy is also preserved through a local post office, recreation center, and park named in her honor.
St. Paul United Methodist Church
Built in 1873, this Texas Historic Landmark holds the distinction of being one of the oldest African American congregations in Dallas and the oldest continuous community presence in the Dallas Arts District. The striking red-brick building features sharp geometric structures, high archways, and stained-glass windows modeled after Renaissance architecture. Many of these design elements parallel the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, creating a unique historical link between the two sanctuaries. Located across from Booker T. Washington High School, the church draws visitors year-round with its spirited music events and archeological displays that tell the story of the congregation and Dallas' Freedman's Town.
Queen City Heights Historic District
Situated at the heart of the historic South Dallas African American community, Queen City Heights boasts a powerful sense of identity. Originally a Reconstruction-era farming settlement known as Prairie, the neighborhood attracted working-class Black families during the 20th century. Classic Craftsman bungalow and shotgun architectural styles still dominate the streetscapes today. The neighborhood, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, also features Exline Park at the corner of Eugene and Latimer streets—a perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon picnic.
Tenth Street Historic District
Following the end of the Civil War, freed slaves established this historic community. The neighborhood grew significantly in 1890 when T.L. Marsalis platted the area, which featured small shotgun houses, a school, and the Elizabeth Chapel. Today, it stands as one of the rare remaining freedmen's towns in the nation to retain the majority of its original folk and vernacular architecture.
To learn more about Black history in Dallas and throughout the state, visit africanamericansintexas.com.
Download the History Road Trips for Kids: African American History Sites in Dallas booklet.