Iconic Sites to Celebrate Black History Month in 2020

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate African American achievements and their impact on the world. Americans of all backgrounds can learn about, honor and reflect on the significance of this month by visiting a number of iconic sites across the country. Here are 13 that are not to be missed this February.

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee surrounds the former Lorraine Motel, which was the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968. Today, the museum showcases hundreds of artifacts and dozens of films, oral histories and interactive media that shepherd visitors through several centuries worth of history.

Opened in 2014, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum in downtown Atlanta features exhibits designed to educate visitors on the American Civil Rights Movement and its impact on the progress of human rights not just in the U.S. but globally. Purchase an Atlanta CityPASS and you can save more than 40 percent off of admission.

While you're in Atlanta, be sure to stop by the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. This site comprises several buildings that allow visitors to follow in King's earliest footsteps, including the civil rights icon's boyhood home and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was baptized. Visitors can also reflect at the "I Have a Dream" World Peace Rose Garden, one of just five major World Peace Rose Gardens established around the world.

The Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. was inspired by an iconic line from King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech: "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." The 30-foot-tall granite statue of the civil rights leader and the Stone of Hope are open to the public 24 hours a day.

After you've visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, head to the nearby National Mall to experience the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This Smithsonian Institution museum showcases the diversity of the African American experience and boasts a robust collection of fascinating artifacts, including a dress sewn by Rosa Parks, boxing headgear worn by Muhammad Ali and a trumpet owned by Louis Armstrong. Current exhibitions include "We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I" and "Now Showing: Posters from African American Movies," among others.

The George Washington Carver National Monument in Newton County, Missouri boasts the distinction of being the first national monument dedicated to an African American and the first dedicated to a non-President. Founded in 1943, the 240-acre site preserves the childhood home of the renowned scientist, educator and humanitarian. There's much to explore here, including a museum and interactive exhibits at the visitor center. Plus, guided tours of the Carver trail are offered daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park honors the legendary conductor of the Underground Railroad prior to the American Civil War. Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland in the early 19th century, Tubman eventually escaped before completing more than a dozen rescue missions that freed approximately 70 slaves.

One of the best places to celebrate African American culture in the Midwest, Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is home to several long-term exhibitions such as "And Still We Rise," which examines the history of African American resilience, in addition to upcoming exhibits like "Queen" from the personal collection of award-winning actress CCH Pounder opening January 28.

Arkansas' Little Rock Central High School is remarkable in that it's the only operating high school in the nation to be designated a National Historic Site. Little Rock Central became the site of forced desegregation when nine African American students enrolled in 1957, three years after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Visitors will need to make reservations for guided tours in advance as they are limited to select weekdays at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama is a National Historic Landmark and part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The bridge was the site of Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965, when police brutally beat civil rights activists who were marching to Montgomery for the voting rights campaign. The televised attacks garnered public support and the protestors were ultimately successful in reaching the Alabama State Capitol later that month.

Designated "America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum" by Congress in 2006, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City celebrates the rich history of African-American baseball and its influence on social advancement in the U.S. The self-guided tour experience features hundreds of photographs, artifacts and even film exhibits integrated with an informative timeline of baseball and African American history. Admission is only $10 for adults but visitors can save by booking a combo ticket to the American Jazz Museum next door.

Located in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan in New York City, the African Burial Ground National Monument marks the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. The sacred space now preserves the historic role slavery played in the development of New York.

Like Atlanta and Memphis, New Orleans is an incredible place to celebrate Black History Month and when visiting the Big Easy in February the New Orleans African American Museum is a must. Located in the city's historic Treme neighborhood-once home to the largest, most prosperous and politically progressive black community by the mid-19th century-this captivating museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.