Freedom Won: Slavery to Civil Rights - Virginia Is For Lovers

Address

6125 Boyton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone

804-861-2408 (8048612408)
City

Petersburg

Locality

Dinwiddie
Social

Following the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, these sites tell significant historical importance of African Americans including their struggles and their accomplishments.

First stop: Pamplin Historical Park. Experience the lives of the common soldier, civilian and enslaved people at this National Landmark 424-acre campus which features four historic homes, The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier,
5 miles of trails and the Breakthrough Battlefield. Pamplin Historical Park’s “Field Quarter” provides a frank look at the lives of African Americans on Southern farms. One of the structures contains an exhibit called “Slavery in America” and features a powerful film probing various perspectives on the South’s “peculiar institution” before the war.

Next stop: Petersburg National Battlefield. Nine and a half months, 70,000
casualties, the suffering of civilians, thousands of U. S. Colored Troops fighting for the freedom of their race, and the decline of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. It was here Gen. Ulysses S. Grant cut off all of Petersburg’s supply lines ensuring the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865. Six days later, Lee surrendered.

Insiders Tip: All of the dining options in Richmond and Petersburg can be found here:
https://www.virginia.org/directory/dining and https://www.petersburgarea.org/dining

Next stop: Historic Tredegar. Designated Richmond’s Official Gateway to the Civil War, Historic Tredegar offers a visitor experience and learning center that includes the Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center, operated by the National Park Service, and an exciting exhibit, In the Cause of Liberty, that explores the causes, course, and legacies of the war from Union, Confederate, and African American Perspectives.

Next stop: Maggie L Walker national historic site in Richmond. Maggie Lena Walker devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. Today, Walker’s home is preserved as a tribute to her enduring legacy of vision, courage, and determination.

Final stop: Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The Museum seeks to become a permanent repository for visual, oral and written records and artifacts commemorating the lives and accomplishments of Blacks in Virginia. The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia’s goal is to become a statewide resource on the many facets of Black history through exhibitions, discussions and celebrations.

Insiders Tip: Attractions mentioned offer group rates and special programming options for adults and students, so be sure to ask.