Cape Coast, Ghana: The Cape Coast Castle was built in 1653 by the Swedes, but was seized by the British in 1665. A military fortress, it was also the site from which enslaved Africans were forcibly loaded onto ships bound for the New World. The dark and suffocating dungeons used as holding areas today remain much as they were centuries ago. These underground passages are open to the public and attract those wishing to gain first hand experience of the horrific conditions of the transatlantic slave trade. The castle is one of the most important stops on African American heritage tours, which help those residing in the diaspora to reconnect with their ancestors and learn more about the violent history of slavery.
