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Explore New England’s African American history and you will soon find yourself immersed in the rich history offered by the African American Heritage Trail of the Upper Housatonic Valley.

The African American Heritage Trail (AAHT) touches 48 sites in 29 Massachusetts and Connecticut towns. These various self-guided experiences offer the history and context of African Americans who played pivotal roles in the region, the U.S., across the world and across the centuries. You will experience the impact and contributions of ordinary, humble people of achievement, and you will meet others who emerged as leaders and activists of their times.

Key sites include:

Visit/Download Trail Guide

The Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail experience evolved through a research and educational project of Housatonic Heritage.

Learn more about this important educational initiative at African American Heritage Trail.  

African American Trail

You can enrich your experience further with the NAACP Stories: An Oral History Project

African American Heritage map