Baltimore and Maryland are home to many tours and museums that celebrate African-American culture and history, but that’s news to many Marylanders.
“Most people in the state haven’t been to all these places,” said Lou Fields, president of the African American Tourism Council of Maryland. “I’m still giving out addresses to all of these places.”
The AATC, a 10-year-old nonprofit, will host the Mid-Atlantic African American Tourism Summit this weekend in Baltimore to promote the region’s African-American tourism attractions.
“We have the Reginald Lewis Museum, the Frederick Douglass Museum, the Negro League Gallery at the Babe Ruth Museum,” Fields said. “This event is meant to showcase Maryland.”
Fields expects about 200 people involved with African-American Tourism to attend the summit and learn more about expanding and promoting the industry.
Today’s events will be held at the Holiday Inn on West Lombard Street and cost $95, breakfast and lunch are included. Saturday’s events will be held at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum in Fells Point, and there is no cost for the day.
The days’ events will include discussions about how Marylanders can promote African-American tourism and its potential economic effect. Representatives from the Maryland Office of Tourism and the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association are scheduled to attend.
“In terms of African-American tourism, we’re getting close to second-to-none as a state — we have so much African-American history and culture,” said Marci Ross, assistant director of the state tourism office’s visitor experience program.
“We want our attractions to be visitor-ready, so the visitors have a sense of what’s there,” Ross said. “It’s really important to tell true stories about the attractions and give proper context.”
The state has worked since 2004 with the National Park Service at improving its “Finding a Way to Freedom” tour of Underground Railroad-related sites. The state had three sites approved by the National Park Service in 2004 and now has 46.
“There’s definitely a commitment on the state’s part to promote its African-American history and culture,” said tourism office spokeswoman Connie Yingling. “Our African-American Heritage Guide has become one of our most popular brochures.”
Mid-Atlantic African American Tourism Summit
» Today: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on West Lombard Street, Baltimore. Cost is $95 for the entire day, or $45 for breakfast only or $65 for lunch only.
» Saturday: 9 a.m. at 2:30 p.m. at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum on Thames Street in Fells Point. Day is free of charge.
» For more: Visit myspace.com/bbhtours.
