tuskegee university tour dates

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Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site | TOURING THE HISTORIC CAMPUS

• PARK AT A GLANCE
• G. W. CARVER MUSEUM
• TOURS OF THE OAKS
• TOURING THE CAMPUS
• TUSKEGEE HISTORY
• DIRECTIONS / CONTACT

Suggested tour route of the historic Tuskegee University Campus (click to enlarge)

Visitors to Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site are welcome to tour the campus on their own or on a guided tour given by Tuskegee University. The National Park Service has nothing to do with campus tours, for it only operates the George Washington Carver Museum and The Oaks , the home of Booker T. Washington.

The historical buildings at Tuskegee are considered to be those constructed from the time of the school’s inception in 1881 until the death of its first president, Booker T. Washington, in 1915, as well as buildings associated with George Washington Carver, who died in 1943. Not counting The Oaks, which can be visited on a tour given by the National Park Service, there are twenty historical sites on the campus, including eighteen buildings, a cemetery, and the Booker T. Washington Monument. While old, most of the buildings are still being used—dorms, classrooms, offices—so they are not open to tourists.

East entrance to Tuskegee University

GUIDED TOURS

Tuskegee University offers free guided tours of the campus during the school year only. Reservations are required. Be sure to request a Historic Campus Tour, because there are also tours available for prospective students. For a list of tour dates and to make a reservation, visit the Tuskegee University Campus Tours web page.

I happened to visit the campus on Parent’s Weekend—a black-out date as far as tours go—so unfortunately I cannot report what the tour covers, or even how long it takes. Some of the historical buildings are far away from the main section of the campus, so I doubt the tour ventures to the see all of the historical sites.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

Visitors to the Tuskegee University campus are welcome to take a self-guided tour at any time. There are two options: 1) stop at Margaret Murray Washington Hall during normal business hours and pick up a free 35-page Self-Guided Tour Manual; 2) take National Park Planner’s recommended self-guided tour.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY’S SELF-GUIDED TOUR MANUAL

Pick up a Self-Guided Tour Manual at the Admissions Office at Margaret Murray Washington Hall, which is located near the corner of West Montgomery Street and Booker T. Washington Boulevard—the building with the round dome. Upon entering, turn to your left and follow the signs to the Admissions Office, which is on the lower floor.

Using the Tour Manual sounds like a winner, for after all, it is provided by the University itself. However, there are three major problems that really make it a loser. First off, while it is certainly something to be thankful for, the manual is just a bunch of individual sheets of paper held together with a paper clip, not a professionally published booklet. The enormous amount of paper makes it cumbersome, and the paper clip makes it hard to flip through the pages. Printing on both sides of the paper would certainly help, as would taking it to a print shop and having it spiral bound.

Second, the booklet gives information on many of the building on the campus, both old and new, and it doesn’t even mention all of the historical buildings. As a tourist, I’m visiting Tuskegee Institute National Historical Site for the history, and if I’m touring the campus, I just want to see the original buildings—but that’s me.

A third problem is that there is no decent map provided, and even worse, no suggested route, so there is no way to make heads or tails out of a self-guided tour using the booklet. The map within the booklet is useless, and a supplemental map that I was given at Washington Hall by a very friendly staff member was just a general campus map that listed a few buildings, but that’s it. Neither the booklet nor the map points out which buildings are the historical buildings, so there is no way that a person visiting the campus for the first time will have a clue as to what to look for or where to go. The only reason I knew which buildings to photograph was because I had been there before. Therefore, if you want to do a self-guided tour, there’s no real need for the tour manual unless you want information on some of the newer buildings.

NATIONAL PARK PLANNER’S SELF-GUIDED TOUR

The best way to see the historical buildings at Tuskegee University is to follow the route on the map at the top of this page. The map comes from the Tuskegee Institute National Historical Site brochure that is available in the Carver Museum. However, while it shows the buildings and even gives a brief description of each, there is no suggested route. Therefore, being the great guy that I am, I came up with a route that passes all of the buildings with the least amount of redundancy. The route starts and ends at the visitor parking lot located next to The Oaks. It takes two hours and entails roughly three miles of walking.

As for information, there are information panels in front of all of the historical buildings that give the building’s history. You can also read the paragraph on each building that is contained on the park brochure. If you have a cell phone, you can always visit National Park Planner and read the building descriptions on this page as you walk around the campus.

CAMPUS TOUR

Stop 1: carver research foundation.

Carver Hall at Tuskegee University

George Washington Carver donated most of his life savings to establish the Carver Research Foundation at Carver Hall. The building was completed in 1940 and it continues to be a research center to this day, with prostate cancer now being its main focus. Inside is a classroom, conference room, offices, and research laboratories.

STOP 2: George Washington Carver Museum

George Washington Carver Museum and Visitor Center at Tuskegee University

Built in 1915, the building that now houses the George Washington Carver Museum was originally the campus laundry facility, and later the home of Carver’s laboratory. It was converted into a museum in 1938 and formally dedicated in 1941. The building is now owned by the National Park Service.

STOP 3: Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall at Tuskegee University

Millionaire and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funds to build Carnegie Hall, which housed the school’s first library from 1901 until 1932. It was renamed Carnegie Music Hall when the music department moved in. Today the building is used for the Financial Aid and the Career Development and Placement Services offices.

STOP 4: Old Administration Building

Old Administration Building at Tuskegee University

The Old Administration Building opened in 1902 and served as the school’s main office building for the next 75 years. Also inside were a post office and credit union. Today it houses offices for Admissions, the Dean of Students, and the Counselling Center.

STOP 5: Thrasher Hall

Thrasher Hall at Tuskegee University

Thrasher Hall was completed in 1893 by students and teachers using bricks they made on campus. First called the Science Building and housing the school’s science classrooms and laboratories, Booker T. Washington renamed it Thrasher Hall in 1903 in honor of Max Bennett Thrasher, the man who edited and helped publish his first book, Up From Slavery . It was renovated in 1983, and only the exterior walls remain from the original building. It looks to be in rough condition today, so I’m not sure if it is used for anything.

Bell that was in the Thrasher Hall bell tower at Tuskegee University

STOP 5: Band Cottage

Band Cottage at Tuskegee University

The Band Cottage was completed in 1889 and is now the home of Tuskegee University’s band. It is the oldest building on campus and was originally used to teach vocational training. Tuskegee Institute founder Lewis Adams taught students tinsmithing here.

STOP 7: Rockefeller Hall

Rockefeller Hall at Tuskegee University

Completed in 1903, Rockefeller Hall was named after millionaire and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and was originally the men’s dormitory. George Washington Carver lived here until moving to Dorothy Hall in 1938. A library and museum were also located here. It is still used as a men’s dormitory today.

STOP 8: Power Plant

Power plant at Tuskegee University

The Power Plant was built in 1915 and was the source of the campus’s electricity. It is no longer in use.

STOP 9: Huntington Hall

Huntington Hall at Tuskegee University

Huntington Hall was completed in 1899 and was used as a women’s dormitory. Funds for its construction were donated by the widow of Collis Huntington, a man who made his fortune in the railroad business and was the president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. In later years it was used as a residence for staff members, as well as for classrooms and faculty offices. Today it is home to the School of Education.

STOP 10: Douglass Hall

Douglass Hall at Tuskegee University

Named after Frederick Douglas, Douglass Hall was completed in 1904, but burned down in 1934. The building standing today is what was rebuilt after the fire. It was used as a woman’s dormitory and also housed a large auditorium. Today it is used as a freshman women’s dorm.

STOP 11: Tompkins Hall

Tompkins Hall at Tuskegee University

Tompkins Hall was completed in 1910 and was the main dining hall at Tuskegee Institute. This building was later transformed into the Student Union, thus making it the central focus for student life. The building is still home to the Student Union; inside are a cafeteria, mail room, ballroom, snack bar, and game room.

STOP 12: White Hall

White Hall at Tuskegee University

White Hall was completed in 1909 and was named after Alexander Moss White, with funds being donated by his children. The clock tower was added in 1913 and had a manual winding system. It was converted to electric in 1951. The building was the main woman’s dormitory, and it still serves as a women’s dorm.

White Hall Clocktower at Tuskegee University

STOP 13: Tantum Hall

Tantum Hall at Tuskegee University

Tantum Hall was built in 1907 and used as a women’s dormitory. It has also served as the residence for female faculty members and as a guesthouse for student and faculty family and friends. Today it is still a women’s dormitory.

STOP 14: Chapel Site and Tuskegee Cemetery

A small cemetery is located next to Tuskegee University’s chapel, a 1969 building that replaced the original chapel that was destroyed by fire in 1957. The cemetery is the final resting place for both Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. Many of Washington’s family members are buried here as well, as are prominent faculty members. The cemetery was established in 1898.

Booker T. Washington’s Grave at Tuskegee University

George Washington Carver’s Grave at Tuskegee University

George Washington Carver’s tombstone at Tuskegee University

Graves of the Tuskegee University cemetery

Chapel built in 1969 at Tuskegee University

STOP 15: Booker T. Washington Monument

Booker T. Washington Monument at Tuskegee University

The Booker T. Washington Monument, sculpted by Charles Keck, was dedicated in 1922. The statue depicts Washington lifting the veil of ignorance.

STOP 16: Dorothy Hall/Kellogg Conference Center

Dorothy Hall/Kellogg Conference Center at Tuskegee University

Dorothy Hall was completed in 1901 and used as a trades school for women. From 1938 to 1943, George Washington Carver lived here. Today, only the exterior of the building is original. The interior was gutted in 1994 for conversion into the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

STOP 17: Margaret Murray Washington Hall

Margaret Murray Washington Hall at the main entrance to Tuskegee University

Named after Booker T. Washington’s third wife, Margaret, who was the Lady Principal of the school, Margaret Murray Washington Hall was built in 1897 and was originally the home of the school’s agriculture department. It is now used as Tuskegee University’s Welcome Center and has an auditorium, meeting spaces for students, a cafeteria, and a book store inside. It is also home to the Admissions Department.

The buildings that I did not get to are the Emery Halls, Milbank Hall, and the Food Science Building. The last two are a good ways from the rest of the buildings.

STOP 18: Emery Halls

Built between 1903-1909, these men’s dormitories were funded by Elizabeth Jullia Emery of England.

STOP 19: Food Science Building

The Food Science Building was completed in 1915. This was originally used as a veterinary hospital, but it now houses the Food Science Division laboratories.

STOP 20: Milbank Hall

Milbank Hall was completed in 1909. It was home to George Washington Carver’s personal laboratory, as well as the Agricultural Department’s classrooms.

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Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site

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February 29, 2024 11:20 AM

• Donnell Suggs

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One by one, several of the main characters of what many consider the best representation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in television history made their way into the Marcus Bar & Grille on Wednesday night. 

Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown and Glynn Turman were at the Old Fourth Ward restaurant for a tip-off dinner for a national HBCU tour in honor of the impact that iconic NBC television series, A Different World, had on generations of Black youth.

For many people, Black or not, A Different World  and the fictional Hillman College was their first look at an HBCU campus, and most importantly, the culture, sound, and feel of an HBCU. 

The first stop on the  A Different World HBCU College Tour , which is presented by  Cisco  and sponsored by  Wells Fargo , is in Atlanta and begins tonight in the Atlanta University Center. The cast will meet with students, faculty and guests from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. The 10-stop tour will then move on to the nation’s capital at Howard University, and to Alabama at both Alabama State University and Tuskegee University in April. The remainder of the tour stops and dates will be announced at a later date, according to the tour’s I nstagram page  and  website .

The first episode of the show, which was created by Bill Cosby and producers Susan Fales and Debbie Allen, aired on Sept. 24, 1987. Asked what the show’s legacy, impact on HBCUs, and this tour mean to him and the rest of the cast, Bell, who played Ron Johnson on the show, said it meant a lot. 

“It means everything to us. We’ve spent the better part of 35 years as the preeminent representation for HBCUs in film and television,” Bell said. “The number of engineers, lawyers, doctors, HBCU presidents that have come up to us and said, ‘I am who I am today because I went to an HBCU and watched A Different World . It’s what matters.”

The cast and the show remain synonymous with HBCUs decades after airing its final episode on July 9, 1993. Bell acknowledged that impact and seemingly timeless connection with people that weren’t even born when the show came on the air or went off the air. 

“For us to have the opportunity to carry that message to the next generation, it’s a blessing,” said Bell. “We want to get to as many schools as we can. That’s why we all do it.” 

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with The Atlanta Voice.

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About the author.

Donnell Suggs is the Editor-in-Chief for The Atlanta Voice.

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Tuskegee University Athletics

Football 2/12/2024 12:30:00 PM

Tuskegee Football Announces 2024 Schedule

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Tuskegee University reveals date for 2024 homecoming festivities

T uskegee University’s well-anticipated homecoming week & celebration will take place in November of next year. The institution announced the date of the homecoming festivities on the scoreboard during their most recent home game per alumnus Joseph Bannerman. This year’s homecoming festivities were on the week of October 8-14.

The highlight of the weekend will be the Golden Tigers rivalry matchup with Miles College. Typically, this game has championship and playoff implications as the winner has clinched a birth in the SIAC Championship.

Miles College won the most recent matchup against Tuskegee in a 35-10 blowout on November 4th. The win cost Tuskegee a chance to return to the SIAC Championship.

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Tuskegee is the latest HBCU to reveal the date of their homecoming festivities a year in advance. North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, and Winston-Salem State University all have announced the date of their homecoming as well, sending. a clear signal for alumni to get prepared and make accommodations now.

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The post Tuskegee University reveals date for 2024 homecoming festivities appeared first on ClutchPoints .

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