The park is the site of famed educator, orator, and presidential advisor, Booker T. Washington's birth, early life, and emancipation. Washington's ideas about education, race, and labor were shaped on this tobacco plantation. The park is one of the few places where one can see how slavery and the plantation system worked on a smaller scale. It provides a focal point for discussion about one of the most powerful African Americans in history and the evolving context of race in American society.  Guided tours are available from Labor day through Memorial day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., weather and staff permitting. Groups of 10 or more should contact the park to reserve a guided tour when staff is available. A quarterly calendar of events is available upon request. The park's visitor center contains exhibits on Washington's life and legacy and offers an audio-visual program interpreting his career and accomplishments.