Step aboard the Historic North Brentwood Tour and discover one of the nation's oldest African American incorporated communities. Visit the site where a barrier once separated Black and White communities—now marked by a monument honoring resilience and progress. Learn how African American families transformed flood-prone land into a thriving, historic community that continues to inspire today.
Reserve your seat on our open-concept electric bus and experience history firsthand!
WELCOME TO NORTH BRENTWOOD HERITAGE TOURS
DISCOVER THE HISTORY. EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE. REMEMBER THE LEGACY
Welcome to North Brentwood Heritage Tours, an immersive journey through the remarkable history of Historic North Brentwood, Maryland—a community built through determination, resilience, entrepreneurship, faith, and the pursuit of opportunity.
Founded in 1891 and incorporated in 1924, North Brentwood became the first incorporated African American municipality in Prince George’s County, Maryland. During an era when segregation and discrimination restricted where African Americans could live, work, own property, and build businesses, the families of North Brentwood created something extraordinary: a community of their own.
Today, North Brentwood stands as a powerful reminder of what ordinary people can accomplish when they work together to build a future for themselves and generations to come.
North Brentwood Heritage Tours invites guests to travel through the historic streets of this extraordinary community while discovering the people, places, institutions, and stories that helped shape its identity.
Along the tour route, guests learn about historic homes, churches, community institutions, gathering places, and landmarks that tell the story of African American life in North Brentwood. The experience explores the importance of homeownership, entrepreneurship, education, faith, civic leadership, community organization, and self-government during a period when African Americans faced significant barriers throughout the region.
Visitors will also learn about the challenges early residents confronted, including segregation, flooding, inadequate infrastructure, and physical separation from surrounding communities—and how generations of residents persevered despite those obstacles.
It is a story not simply about hardship, but about resilience and achievement.
Our heritage experience highlights significant locations throughout Historic North Brentwood, including the Prince George’s African American Museum & Cultural Center, historic churches, the Municipal Center and community institutions, Firemen’s Hall, the North Brentwood Memorial Garden, historic residences, the former Sis’ Tavern, and other important sites connected to the town’s development and cultural life.
Guests will hear stories of families, entrepreneurs, educators, civic leaders, religious institutions, and community organizations whose contributions helped transform North Brentwood into a thriving African American municipality.
The tour also explores North Brentwood’s relationship with neighboring Washington, D.C., and the broader history of African American communities along the Route 1 corridor.
North Brentwood Heritage Tours was created with a simple purpose: to help ensure that the history of this community is never forgotten.
Historic buildings may change. Generations may pass. Neighborhoods may evolve. But the stories of the people who built these communities deserve to remain.
By introducing residents, families, students, visitors, and future generations to North Brentwood’s history, we hope to encourage a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and accomplishments of those who came before us.
North Brentwood is not simply a collection of historic sites.
It is a living community with a living history.
The North Brentwood Heritage Tour experience is presented in connection with the African American Cafe, located in the heart of Historic North Brentwood.
Our mission extends beyond serving food. We believe African American food traditions, community history, music, art, entrepreneurship, and hospitality are all connected parts of the American story.
The African American Cafe provides a welcoming place where visitors can continue the conversation, experience African American food culture, and enjoy the spirit of hospitality that has long been part of this community.
Together, the Cafe and North Brentwood Heritage Tours create an experience that allows visitors to see the history, hear the stories, experience the culture, and taste the tradition.
You do not have to be a historian to enjoy this experience.
Our tours are designed for families, students, schools, churches, senior groups, community organizations, visitors, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in discovering an important chapter of American history.
Whether you have lived in Prince George’s County your entire life or are visiting the Washington metropolitan area for the first time, we invite you to discover the remarkable story waiting within the streets of Historic North Brentwood.
Come with curiosity. Leave with a greater understanding of the people whose courage, determination, faith, and vision helped build this historic community.
Welcome to North Brentwood Heritage Tours
Welcome to the Multicultural Food Experience
Welcome to the community
Welcome to the history
Welcome to the culture
WELCOME HOME