The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is a National Historic Landmark and one of only two in the state of New Jersey that honors Black History and culture. The Cultural Center is also a Historic Journalism Site, where you’ll learn about the Black Press, a powerful network that included the Pullman Car Porters. This is history in your backyard.

The mission of the of the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is to uphold the social justice and civil rights legacy of T. Thomas Fortune through education, the arts, public programming and community outreach. 

Check out their site for details on tours: https://www.tthomasfortuneculturalcenter.org/

The Peter Mott House is a museum and renovated station along the Underground Railroad, the clandestine network to freedom for fugitives in the 19th century. The Lawnside Historical Society was founded and formed to protect the legacy of Peter and Elizabeth Mott and their home as part of the Underground Railroad network.

Check out their site for details on tours: Home – Peter Mott House

The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County is located on the Historic Smithville Park grounds. The museum offers visitors a visual presentation of the Underground Railroad experience in America, with emphasis on New Jersey and Burlington County where the Underground Railroad flourished before the Civil War. The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County is dedicated to keeping history alive- connecting the past to the present through the acquisition and presentation of historical artifacts and materials while giving voices to history through creative expression in art, music, and the “spoken word.”

Check out their site for details on tours: HUGRRMBC

Showcasing Innovation: The Virtual Landmark Project

The New Jersey Amistad Commission proudly showcased a Virtual Landmark Project for students to display their academic skills in Social Studies, History, and Digital Media Communications. Designed to highlight New Jersey’s African American landmarks and hidden treasures, the project allows educators and students to create immersive virtual tours that bring history to life.

This year, students from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) presented their video project, A Journey Through Atlantic City, during the Summer Curriculum Institute in the Fannie Lou Hamer Room at Stockton University. The setting could not have been more fitting. This year’s Institute was held in Atlantic City, the very city their project highlighted, and the presentation took place in the room honoring Fannie Lou Hamer, whose advocacy on voting rights and equality left a powerful mark on Atlantic City decades ago.

This alignment made their presentation one of the highlights of the Institute. It created a living connection between past and present. The project not only underscored the significance of Atlantic City within broader U.S. history but also showcased how students can bring history forward through digital storytelling. The virtual tour allows future educators and students to experience Atlantic City’s historic African American landmarks through a field trip without ever leaving the classroom.

On behalf of the Commission, we extend our sincere gratitude to the staff, Gabe Staino and Anthony Hurst and students, Noah Simon, Reese McKnight, Hanna Kuniewicz, Jessica Ebong, and Scott Martin for their extraordinary work and diligence. We look forward to more exciting videos that showcase African American landmarks across New Jersey.

ACIT Amistad 2025.mp4