As the birthplace or adopted home of many African American artists, activists, and achievers whose contributions have shaped and strengthened the nation, Virginia is a veritable treasure trove of Black history. From Lynchburg-born astronaut Leland Melvin, to pioneering civil rights attorney and…
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In August 1619, “some 20 and odd” Africans arrived at Point Comfort, site of Fort Monroe in Hampton, after being forced from their villages in present-day Angola and pushed onto a Portuguese slave ship headed for the New World. Nearing its destination, the slave ship was confronted by two English…
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Join us during the month of July in the birthplace of American democracy at Jamestown for special programs, exhibits, and performances marking the 400 th anniversary of the First Representative Legislative Assembly in the New World. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND America’s first permanent English…
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When you look around Lynchburg, you may take in the views of the picture-esque Blue Ridge Mountains or the mighty James River or even the iconic hillside cityscape. But, look closer: you’ll see a world of history is surrounding you—and it’s yours to explore. Here’s what awaits you. American Civil…
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The journey to equality in the American education system spanned over a hundred years, involving many heroic individuals willing to sacrifice their own personal comfort and safety to make the change necessary for future generations. Many of these brave men and women hailed from Southside…
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Welcome back to my blog post series, Come Home to Virginia – Black History Sites. I am a native and a resident of Virginia; my work as a historian explores public spaces with attention to visitor education and community engagement. This blog explores Black history across time and space. I look…
Read MoreVirginia history is more than we have been taught. Many know Virginia as the mother of Presidents. It is also the place where at least 500,000 enslaved people lived and worked when Americans fought each other in a civil war (1861-1865). Their presence and contributions have shaped the commonwealth…
Read MoreThis article is the seventh in a series commemorating the American Evolution – Virginia to America 1619-2019 . See articles one, two, three, four, five ,and six here. Many of the early settlers in Virginia were well educated. While it became commonplace for the highest placed colonists to send their…
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While Virginia may have established the roots for a new form of government reflecting the will of the people, the role of women at different points throughout Virginia’s history largely reflects that of the rest of the Western world. With a few notable exceptions, until quite recently women’s roles…
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