EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE

Sarasota, Florida

In 1927, the winter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus was moved to Sarasota, Florida. The Ringlings had long been established in Sarasota, and at one point owned as much as a quarter of the town’s land, inextricably linking the history of this Florida beach town with the Greatest Show on Earth. There are nods to the circus’ legacy throughout the city, from the Circus Ring of Fame, where groups can explore the legacies of circus performers, to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which is both the state art museum of Florida and the city’s No. 1 attraction.

Sarasota has another major historical draw to the area: Lido Beach, the southernmost point on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. In the 1950s and ’60s, African Americans were allowed to use less than two miles of Florida’s 2,000 miles of shoreline. Demonstrators began staging “wadeins” at Lido Beach that called national media attention to the issue and advanced the fight against segregation.

“There was a very key victory for Black and brown people when the NAACP asserted its right to the beach,” said Vickie Oldham, local historian and president and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition Inc.

Once they’ve taken in Sarasota’s history, travelers can visit the Selby Botanical Gardens, where they’ll see exotic plants from around the world. At the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, they can see and learn about the many species of marine life in Sarasota through interactive exhibits. To enjoy elegantly plated continental fare in the ambience of a historic building, visitors can dine in what was once John Ringling’s office at Café L’Europe. For a more casual atmosphere, they can head to Der Dutchman Restaurant, which serves traditional Amish family recipes and homemade pies.

VISITSARASOTA.COM

Vintage Civil Rights Organization Pins

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, an African American history museum in Little Rock, is dedicated to telling the stories of the Mosaic Templars and African Americans in Arkansas, from their struggles against inequality to their everyday lives and triumphs. The center’s artifacts include personal effects of the people who lived during or were inspired by the civil rights movement, from newspaper clippings and magazines to art. The center has several exhibits dedicated to the display of buttons, pins and magnets from important organizations within the movement. One exhibit features an NAACP member pin from 1947, a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) member pin from the 1960s and a National Black Convention pin from 1974. These vintage pins demonstrate the importance of membership in Black American organizations uniting to fight for a common goal, as well as how long these organizations have been vital to civil rights causes.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

The picturesque, hilly town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, can be found at the convergence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, surrounded by the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The red brick buildings, lush forests and rushing rivers make Harpers Ferry seem like something out of a storybook, but there’s more to this idyllic town than meets the eye; in 1859, it was the site of the famous raid led by abolitionist John Brown, who attacked the federal armory in an attempt to lead an uprising and end slavery. Harpers Ferry is also home to Storer College, the first school in the state that educated former slaves. This educational institution was where W.E.B. DuBois held the 1906 conference that planted the seed for the formation of the NAACP.

To learn more about Black history in the area, travelers can follow in the Jefferson County African American Heritage Trail. Sites one through 10 on the trail are located in Harpers Ferry, including the fort where John Brown’s attempted raid took place, the John Brown Museum and Storer College, which features three rooms of exhibits. Visitors can also participate in ghost tours of Harpers Ferry for a spookier take on local history.

There are many opportunities to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Harpers Ferry. The town marks the halfway point on Appalachian Trail, and travelers can walk a portion of the trail up to Jefferson Rock, an interesting rock formation that overlooks the Shenandoah River. To refuel, visitors can grab something sweet at True Treats Historic Candy, the only historic candy shop in the country. For something more filling, they can grab a bite at the Anvil Restaurant, which serves a variety of seafood and classic dinner staples.

DISCOVERITALLWV.COM

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Canton, Mississippi

With a beautiful Greek Revival courthouse as its centerpiece and rows of multicolored buildings surrounding it, the Courthouse Square District in Canton, Mississippi, can be found on the National Register of Historic Places. While its historic square charms visitors, Canton is also home to many historic sites and important figures in the civil rights movement. The city is committed to preserving and highlighting its diverse history, which is why it created the Canton Multicultural Center and Museum, a museum showcasing the cultural heritage of many of Canton’s residents and the causes they advocated for.

“We of course have a very diverse community,” said Jo Ann Gordon, director of the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We celebrate