Wondering if it's a cane prop for a minstrel show...?

I'll bet you are right! Carried in the manner of a swagger stick.

How would I go about finding a value for it? Where would I look?

Search for "black americana collectibles".

Does the head come out, revealing a place to hide liquor?

Could it be a conductor's wand/baton?

Not likely....it's about 10 inches too long.
I believe that it's a prop cane for a minstrel show

I have never tried to remove the head but it looks like it is meant to stay put. I may gently tug on it a bit out of curiosity now.

Black Americana is highly collectible, so you may be able to google it and find a knowledgeable dealer to help you ID it.

FWIW, most of the antique conductor batons I find on-line (the kind that are carved, thicker, and longer than modern ones) are around 22" long.

If it were a little longer, it could have been used in a dance routine in a minstrel show. Maybe it was a child size cane for a dance routine.