Commemorations of Benjamin Banneker facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Benjamin Banneker (1731–1806) was a very talented free African American. He was an almanac writer, surveyor, landowner, and farmer. He knew a lot about math, astronomy, and nature. Many places and things in the United States have been named after him to remember his achievements. For example, a United States postage stamp was made in his honor. Even a famous poet, Rita Dove, wrote a poem about him in 1983.

Benjamin Banneker Postage Stamp
Places to Visit and Learn
Schools and Learning Places
Special University Programs and Money for School
Awards
Streets
Buildings and Homes
Businesses
Groups That Help Others
Other Ways Benjamin Banneker is Remembered
Images for kids

Benjamin Banneker Postage Stamp

Jerry Pinkney (2011)

On February 15, 1980, during Black History Month, the United States Postal Service released a special 15-cent postage stamp. It was issued in Annapolis, Maryland. The stamp showed a picture of Banneker. An image of Banneker standing behind a small telescope was placed on top of his portrait. This telescope looks like a real instrument that is now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

This stamp was the third in the Postal Service's Black Heritage series. Jerry Pinkney, who designed the first nine stamps in the series, created the portrait. Since no real pictures of Banneker exist, the artist had to imagine what he looked like.

Places to Visit and Learn

Many parks, playgrounds, community centers, museums, and even a planetarium are named after Benjamin Banneker.

Parks

Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, Baltimore County, Maryland

A park that remembers Benjamin Banneker is located in Oella, Maryland. This is where Banneker's farm and home used to be. The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks manages this park, which opened on June 9, 1998.

The park is very large, covering about 138 acres. It has old archaeological sites and many nature trails. It is the biggest original African American historical site in the United States. The main part of the park is a museum that shows Banneker's important work. The museum has a visitor center with a collection of Banneker's writings and old items. It also has a community gallery, a gift shop, and a patio garden.

The park also has a stone farmhouse from the 1850s, called the "Molly Banneky House." This three-story house was fixed up in 2004 to be used as offices.

On November 12, 2009, a copy of Banneker's log cabin was opened on the park grounds. It was built to look like his original cabin. The state of Maryland helped pay for its construction.

A historical marker from the Maryland Historical Society stands in the park. It tells about Banneker. This marker replaced older ones that had been damaged.

Gallery of Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Benjamin Banneker Museum (2017)
Replica of Banneker's log cabin (2017)
Molly Banneky House (2017)
Stone Farmhouse historical marker (2017)
Benjamin Banneker historical marker (2017)
Museum interior (2017)
Title page of a Baltimore edition of Banneker's 1793 almanac (2017)
Pages from Banneker's almanac (2017)

Benjamin Banneker Park and Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Plaza and fountain in Benjamin Banneker Park, Washington, D.C. (2011)

^{Library of Congress} Looking north at Benjamin Banneker Park and Overlook in Washington, D.C. (1990).

A 4.7-acre park in Southwest, Washington, D.C. also honors Benjamin Banneker. It is located near the National Mall. The park has a great view at the end of L'Enfant Plaza. A traffic circle called Banneker Circle goes around this viewpoint.

The National Park Service (NPS) manages this park. In 1997, the NPS put up a historical marker near the park's entrance. The park is now a stop on Washington's Southwest Heritage Trail.

The park was designed in 1967 by Dan Kiley. It was built in 1969 and then given to the NPS in 1970. The park's circular shape offers views of the nearby waterfront and the Potomac River. In the middle of the park is a large fountain that shoots water high into the air.

In 1970, the city council asked the NPS to rename the park "Benjamin Banneker Park." The NPS held a ceremony in 1971 to do this. Even though the park doesn't have a direct connection to Banneker, it was named to honor him.

In 1998, the U.S. Congress allowed a group to build a memorial for Banneker on federal land in D.C. This memorial is planned to be in or near the park. The idea is to create a memorial that celebrates Banneker's achievements.

Over the years, there have been many ideas for developing the park area. These included building a baseball stadium or different museums. In 2004, a group called the D.C. Preservation League said the park was "endangered" because of these plans. They noted that the park was important as the first public space in Washington named after an African American.

In 2014, it was decided that the park was important enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, plans were approved to add a staircase and ramp to connect the park to the waterfront. This project was finished in spring 2018.

Benjamin Banneker Park, Arlington County, Virginia

Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone of the District of Columbia (2012)

An 11-acre park in Arlington County, Virginia, also honors Banneker. It remembers his work in surveying the boundaries of Washington, D.C. The park has paved trails, picnic tables, a playground, a playing field, and a dog park. One of the original boundary stones for D.C. is located inside this park.

Playground

Banneker Playground, Brooklyn, New York

The Banneker Playground in Brooklyn, New York, was built in 1937. In 1985, the New York City parks department renamed this 1.67-acre playground after Benjamin Banneker. It has handball and basketball courts, trees, and a camel sculpture. The Benjamin Banneker Elementary School (P.S. 256) is located nearby.

Community Centers

Banneker Community Center, Catonsville, Maryland

The Banneker Community Center in Catonsville, Maryland, is close to where Banneker's home and farm used to be. It is part of the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. The center has ballfields, courts for different sports, and a playground.

Banneker Community Center, Washington, D.C.

Banneker Community Center, Washington, D.C. (2011)

The Banneker Community Center in Northwest, Washington, D.C. is near Howard University. This center is managed by the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. It has playing fields, basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool, a computer lab, and other indoor and outdoor areas. Built in 1934, the building was named for Benjamin Banneker. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because it was important to the black community in Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Banneker Community Center, Bloomington, Indiana

The Benjamin Banneker Community Center in Bloomington, Indiana, has a gym, restrooms, a kitchen, a library, and a family resource center. This building was once the Benjamin Banneker School, a school for African American students from 1915 to 1951. When schools became integrated, its name changed. In 1994, the city council renamed it the Benjamin Banneker Community Center to remember its history and Benjamin Banneker.

Museums

Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis, Maryland

The Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, honors both Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass. This museum, opened in 1984, is Maryland's official museum for African American history. It is located in and next to the old Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

Statue of Benjamin Banneker in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C. (2020)

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in Washington, D.C., in 2016. It has a statue of Benjamin Banneker in an exhibit called "The Founding of America."

Planetarium

Banneker Planetarium, Catonsville, Maryland

The Banneker Planetarium in Catonsville, Maryland, is about 2 miles southeast of where Benjamin Banneker's home used to be. It is part of the Community College of Baltimore County. The planetarium offers shows and programs about space to the public.

Schools and Learning Places

Many university buildings, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and scholarships are named after Benjamin Banneker.

University Buildings, Rooms, Programs, and Memorials

Banneker Hall, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker Hall, Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland (building no longer exists)
Benjamin Banneker Hall, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
Benjamin Banneker Hall, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker Honors College, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas
Benjamin Banneker Memorial Sundial, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Room, Adele H. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker Science Hall, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio
Benjamin Banneker Technology Complex, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida

High Schools and High School Rooms

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Washington, D.C. (2017)

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development, Brooklyn, New York
Benjamin Banneker High School, Fulton County, Georgia
Benjamin Banneker Lecture Hall, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, Maryland

Middle Schools

Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Benjamin Banneker Middle School, Burtonsville, Maryland
The Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School, Willingboro Township, New Jersey

Elementary Schools

Banneker Group (23 elementary schools), St. Louis, Missouri
Banneker-Doyle Career and Transition Center, Los Angeles, California
Banneker Elementary School, Saint Louis, Virginia
Banneker Elementary Science & Technology Magnet School, Kansas City, Kansas
Benjamin Banneker Academy, East Orange, New Jersey
Benjamin Banneker Achievement Center, Gary, Indiana
Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy of Technology, Kansas City, Missouri

Benjamin Banneker School, Parkville, Missouri (2018)

Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Loveville, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Milford, Delaware
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, New Orleans, Louisiana
Benjamin Banneker School (now Benjamin Banneker Community Center), Bloomington, Indiana
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School (P.S. 256), Brooklyn, New York
Benjamin Banneker School, Parkville, Missouri (historical)

Other Educational Places

Benjamin Banneker Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (historical)

Special University Programs and Money for School

Several university programs and scholarships are named after Banneker:

Benjamin Banneker Professorship of American Studies and History, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio
Banneker/Key Scholarship, University of Maryland Honors College, College Park, Maryland

Awards

Several awards are named after Banneker:

Benjamin Banneker Award, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama
Benjamin Banneker Award, Temple University College of Education, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Banneker Award for Excellence in Math and Science, Buffalo, New York
Benjamin Banneker Award for Outstanding Social Commitment and Community Initiatives, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Legacy Award, The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology, Washington, D.C.

Streets

Many streets across the United States are named after Banneker:

Banneker Avenue, Richmond Heights, Missouri
Banneker Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Banneker Court, Detroit, Michigan
Banneker Court, Mobile, Alabama
Banneker Court, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Banneker Court, Wilmington, Delaware
Banneker Cove, Memphis, Tennessee
Banneker Drive, San Diego
Banneker Drive, Williamsburg, Virginia
Banneker Drive Northeast, Washington, D.C.
Banneker Lane, Annapolis, Maryland
Banneker Place, Dallas, Texas
Banneker Place, Nipomo, California
Banneker Road, Columbia, Maryland
Banneker Street, Columbus, Ohio
Banneker Street, DeQuincy, Louisiana
Benjamin Banneker Boulevard, Aquasco, Maryland
South Banneker Avenue, Fresno, California
West Banneker Street, Hanford, California

Buildings and Homes

Several buildings and apartment complexes are named after Banneker:

Banneker Building, Columbia, Maryland
Banneker Gardens, Cumberland, Maryland (townhomes/apartments)
Banneker Homes, San Francisco
Banneker Place, Town Center, Columbia, Maryland
Banneker Place apartments, Washington, D.C.

Businesses

Some businesses are named after Banneker:

Banneker Energy, LLC, Duluth, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana (manages fuel for transportation)
Banneker, Inc., Denver, Colorado (makes watches and clocks)
Banneker Industries, Inc., North Smithfield, Rhode Island (manages supply chains)
Banneker Ventures, LLC, Washington, D.C. and Rockville, Maryland (manages design, construction, and contracts)
The Banneker Group, LLC, Laurel, Maryland (general contracting and building maintenance)

Groups That Help Others

Several groups that work to help people are named after Banneker:

The Benjamin Banneker Association, Inc. (BANNEKERMATH.org), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Benjamin Banneker Center for Economic Justice and Progress, Baltimore, Maryland
The Benjamin Banneker Foundation, Fulton, Maryland
The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science & Technology, Washington, D.C.
Washington Interdependence Council: Administrators of the Benjamin Banneker Memorial and Banneker Institute of Math & Science, Washington, D.C.

Other Ways Benjamin Banneker is Remembered

^{Library of Congress} Benjamin Banneker mural in Washington, D.C.

Other ways Benjamin Banneker is remembered include:

"Banneker", a 1983 poem by Rita Dove
Banneker City Little League, Washington, D.C. (youth baseball)
Banneker Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts (a summer program for astronomy)
Banneker Literary Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (historical)
Banneker neighborhood, Town Center, Columbia, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker 1731-1806: His Life and Place. An art exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1997.
Benjamin Banneker Honors Math & Science Society, Washington Metropolitan Area
Benjamin Banneker Mathematics Competition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Banneker mural, Recorder of Deeds Building, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker obelisk, Mount Gilboa Chapel, Oella, Maryland
Benjamin Banneker Science Fair, Delaware Valley
Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone (a historical marker) of the District of Columbia.
Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars (a 1981 film starring Ossie Davis)
Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars (a 1989 TV show starring Ossie Davis)
The Banneker Room, George Howard Building, Howard County, Maryland Government, Ellicott City, Maryland (a meeting room)
The Banneker Room, The Wayside Inn, Ellicott City, Maryland (a guest room)

Images for kids

Plaza and fountain in Benjamin Banneker Park, Washington, D.C. (2011)
Library of Congress Looking north at Benjamin Banneker Park and Overlook in Washington, D.C., with L'Enfant Promenade behind it and the James V. Forrestal Building, the Smithsonian Institution Building ("The Castle") and the National Mall in the background (1990).
Benjamin Banneker Museum (2017)
Replica of Banneker's log cabin (2017)
Molly Banneky House (2017)
Stone Farmhouse historical marker (2017)
Benjamin Banneker historical marker (2017)
Museum interior (2017)
Title page of a Baltimore edition of Banneker's 1793 almanac (2017)
Pages from Banneker's almanac (2017)

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