African American history sites are plentiful in the Washington area

- Ben's Chili Bowl on U St. in Washington was open during the riots that followed Martin Luther King’s assasination and has been visited by a number of famous African Americans over the years.

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The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial is attracting all the fanfare this week. But just outside the spotlight, in Washington and its surroundings, there are dozens of houses, museums and other sites that reflect the history of African Americans in this capital city and the country. Some places boast a large historical footprint, such as the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, where Thurgood Marshall argued 1954’s Brown v. Board of Education . The case ended in the landmark decision that declared segregated schools unconstitutional. Others offer more backstory to the story of race in America, such as the home of Carter G. Woodson, known as the “father of African American history.” Located at 1538 Ninth St. NW and recently acquired by the National Park Service, the house will eventually be restored and opened to the public.) Back when downtown Washington was for white people, entire black business areas thrived. The most famous was the U Street entertainment district in Northwest. Known as the Black Broadway, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald performed there even after they had attracted nationwide attention. Today, U Street, site of the historic Lincoln Theatre and Bohemian Caverns jazz club, is at the heart of the city’s liveliest nightlife scene — and now open to all. Listed below is a sampling of African American Washington. Admission is free unless noted. But there’s much more: In 2000, Cultural Tourism DC surveyed the city to create an inventory of more than 200 sites. CTDC’s constantly updated Web site offers detailed and an often surprising list of suggestions: