State and National Parks have long been popular destinations for travelers looking to escape hot city summers. Admittance to parks was (and still is) significantly cheaper than vacationing at a private resort, making these spaces more accessible to working-class African Americans. Camping, picnicking, and swimming were common activities. While parks were typically segregated and unequal, they were also spaces for Black folks to build community, relax, and experience pleasure, physically separated from the daily indignities of the Jim Crow Era. These photos showcase Black leisure in State and National Parks in the Mid-Atlantic Area.
Parks, both state and national, were segregated during this era. Lewis Mountain was the Black section of Shenandoah National Park. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Bus trips organized by groups, such as the Know Your City Club trip to Shenandoah National Park pictured here, provided an opportunity for people to access parks. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.
Camping, as seen here at Shenandoah National Park, provided an opportunity to deeply connect with nature and avoid the potentially complicated task of finding a hotel that would serve Black travelers. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.
Prince Edward State Park in Virginia offered camping cabins, where families, like the Cole family pictured here, could spend the night. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks.
Prince Edward State Park had music and dancing. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks.
Prince Edward Lake was one of the few venues for swimming in Virginia. Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks.
Man and woman sleeping outside while on a picnic. Photo courtesy of the Peter J. Cohen Collection.
A man teaching young child how to water ski on beach shore. Photo courtesy of the Peter J. Cohen Collection.
City parks, like Garfield Park in Washington D.C. seen here, were popular leisure spaces. Photo courtesy of DigDC.
City parks provided recreational opportunities, like a soap box derby race seen here. Photo courtesy of DigDC.
Camps
Multiple organizations, such as Scouts of America and YMCA/YWCA, developed summer camps for Black youth. These often took place in parks. The goals of these camps included developing leadership skills, building character, and providing space away from urban environments. Activities included hiking, fishing, playing sports, swimming, and learning about nature. Some camps were marketed toward elite Black families, while others served low-income mothers and children. These photos provide a snapshot of daily happenings in these summer camps.
Kids enjoyed many outdoor activities at summer camps, including crafting with clay at Camp Pleasant pictured here. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Summer camps were marketed to promote Black youth’s futures, build character, and improve physical and educational development. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Summer camps were marketed to promote Black youth’s futures, build character, and improve physical and educational development. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Camp Pleasant was a camp run by the National Park Service serving low-income Black mothers and families in the Washington D.C. area. Photo courtesy of the New York Public Library.
