7 Black Sites You Must See in Seattle

Jimi Hendrix Park is a 2.5-acre green space located in the city’s Central District, where the legendary rocker grew up. Enter the park at a giant wall with Jimi’s signature, and follow the purple walkway that features a timeline of his career. At the center of the shadow wave wall art installation is an 11-foot portrait of Hendrix, a stunning tribute to one of Seattle’s most famous native sons.

Founded in 1886, First AME Church is the oldest church founded by African Americans in the city. In addition to being a place of worship, the church served as a place for local organizers to meet during the Civil Rights Movement.

What’s not to love about an entire museum dedicated to pop culture? The Museum of Pop Culture has over 80,000 pieces in its permanent collection, including musical instruments, television and movie props and clothing items worn by some of your favorite celebs. Among the pieces in the permanent hip hop collection are handwritten lyrics, classic vinyl and photographs that celebrate the evolution of the art form. There is also a collection of Jimi Hendrix lyrics, artwork and photographs.

Wa Na Wari, which means “Our Home” in Kalabari, an Ijo language of Nigeria, was co-founded in 2019 by four artists - Inye Wokoma (Frank and Goldyne Green’s grandson), Elisheba Johnson, Rachel Kessler, and Jill Freidberg. What was once a Black-owned family home has become a home for Black art exhibits, performances and movie screenings.

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is the place for African American performing arts and culture. Whether it’s a smooth jazz concert, a captivating book talk or an exciting dance performance, you’ll get the best of Black culture. It’s also the home of the Seattle Black Film Festival.

In 1965, the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. donated books to the Henry L. Yesler Memorial Library to create what is now known as the library’s African-American Collection of literature and history. The branch was renamed the Douglass-Truth Branch in 1975 in honor of Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. A visit to the branch should not be complete without making time to view the Soul Pole, an over 20-foot wooden sculpture carved by artists from the Rotary Boys Club to represent African Americans’ fight for justice, which was donated to the library in 1972.

The Northwest African American Museum opened its doors in 2008 inside the Colman School, the first school in Seattle to admit Black students. The museum is dedicated to preserving the connections of people of African descent to the Pacific Northwest.