Visit the Museum of African American History for Free During February School Vacation

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Looking to pull your little ones away from their phone and TV habits this February vacation week? Take them on an educational journey instead at the Museum of African American History (MAAH) in Beacon Hill, where free admission will be offered all week long—thanks to the Red Sox Foundation’s efforts to honor the importance of Black History Month in Boston.

The foundation’s charity is partnering with the museum all week long so that visitors can enjoy complimentary admission and tours, allowing them to delve deeply into the historic artwork and cultural artifacts that are crucial to understanding our nation’s past. There’s plenty to explore, after all; the MAAH is the largest museum of its kind in New England and filled with artifacts from several periods of African American history.

Current exhibitions include two jazz-centric displays: Jazz Scene in Boston: Telling the Local Story, and Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection. These exhibits look at the cultural impact of jazz through the lens of both local and international talent. Dance through these influential halls of history, portrayed through photos, posters, and memorabilia, and examine their timeless significance in the modern world.

Don’t stop after just those exhibits, though—the MAAH buildings themselves are seeping with nationally historic relevance. The African Meeting House is the oldest black church in the country and hosted major players of the Abolitionist Movement in the 1800s, like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Its adjacent building, Abiel Smith School, was the first black public school built in the nation and was a major part of the local desegregation movement. Today, they exist as National Historic Landmarks and homes to iconic pieces of history for the Commonwealth to absorb and enjoy—especially during Black History Month.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., February 14-23, 46 Joy St., Boston, maah.org.