Cabin Fever Weekends: National Black History Month

In February, help the Ohio History Center celebrate National Black History Month and the African Americans who have called and still call Ohio home. The following programs are free to all paid museum visitors or OHS members.

Saturdays February 1, 8, 15

12 p.m.
Redlining and Restrictive Deeds
After World War II, large numbers of homes were built for returning soldiers and their families. Learn about how redlining and restrictive deeds made it more difficult for some, especially minorities, to get housing.

1 p.m.
Echoes in Time Theatre— Alice Dunbar Nelson: Poet, Journalist, Political Activist
Among the first generation of African Americans born in the South after the Civil War, Alice graduated from college in 1892 and taught for six years, editing the woman's page of a New Orleans paper in her free time. She began publishing her poetry and short stories at age 20. In 1895 she began a correspondence with Paul Laurence Dunbar. They later married and moved to Washington, D.C. The two came from very different racial experiences: Alice's light skin allowed her to "pass," while Paul's more "African" appearance kept him out of places she was able to enter. Krysteen Hammond of Columbus portrays Alice Dunbar Nelson in this one-woman performance.

1:30 p.m.
Inventors and their Inventions
Think you know your inventors? Test your skills in our card game – match the African-American inventor to their invention(s)! All ages are welcome to give it a try.

2:30 p.m.
Adams Family Collection
Even the average Ohio family has a unique story to tell. Put your detective skills to the test: look through archival boxes to see what you can learn about one such family and their daily life! This program is open to sleuths of all ages.

3 p.m.
Echoes in Time Theatre— Alice Dunbar Nelson: Poet, Journalist, Political Activist
Among the first generation of African Americans born in the South after the Civil War, Alice graduated from college in 1892 and taught for six years, editing the woman's page of a New Orleans paper in her free time. She began publishing her poetry and short stories at age 20. In 1895 she began a correspondence with Paul Laurence Dunbar. They later married and moved to Washington, D.C. The two came from very different racial experiences: Alice's light skin allowed her to "pass," while Paul's more "African" appearance kept him out of places she was able to enter. Krysteen Hammond of Columbus portrays Alice Dunbar Nelson in this one-woman performance.

Sundays February 2, 9, 16

1 p.m.
Staff Pick – Civil War Flags
View the flags of two African American units in the Civil War - the Black Brigade of Cincinnati and the 5th US Colored Troops - and learn more about the stories behind them.

2 p.m.
Staff Pick – Larry Doby
Jackie Robinson may have broken the color barrier in professional baseball, but he didn’t do it alone. Join one of our history interpreters to learn a little about Larry Doby, the first African-American in the American League.

3 p.m.
Adams Family Collection
Even the average Ohio family has a unique story to tell. Put your detective skills to the test: look through archival boxes to see what you can learn about one such family and their daily life! This program is open to sleuths of all ages.