Harriet is based on the story of iconic freedom fighter Harriet Tubman, her escape from slavery and subsequent missions to free dozens of slaves through the Underground Railroad in the face of growing pre-Civil War adversity.
Released November 1, 2019, Harriet filmed in Virginia in fall and winter of 2018, spending time in Richmond, Powhatan, Cumberland, Petersburg, Mathews and several other localities. The project from Focus Features will be the first feature length film to tell the story of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who brought hundreds of slaves to freedom in 19th century America. Released November 1, 2019, Harriet stars Tony-award winning actress Cynthia Erivo, alongside Leslie Odom Jr, Janelle Monae, and Joe Alwyn.
In 1619, after a stormy voyage across the Atlantic, the Good Ship Margaret landed at Berkeley with thirty-six men aboard. In accordance with the instructions given in the charter by the Virginia Company, these settlers observed the first official English Thanksgiving in America…
A devastating fire on a hot summer night in 1815 wiped out the old towne of Petersburg, a collection of wooden warehouses and homes along the Appomattox River. The brick commercial district that grew from the ashes became a crossroads for batteaux on the canals and trading ships…
Three Lakes Park and Nature Center bring together the three worlds of air, water, and land for visitors to explore. The Nature Center is a 6,500 square foot facility featuring a variety of exhibits designed to provide hands-on experiences. The 50,000 gallon aquarium also gives…
Williams Wharf, an historic boatyard and steamship landing provides public access to Mathews' picturesque East River for engineless watercraft (canoes, kayaks, rowing shells). The site was also used to film a scene in the Harriet film! Recent restoration of the…
In the 1930s landscape architects transformed Mason’s Island from neglected, overgrown farmland into Theodore Roosevelt Island, a memorial to America’s 26th president. They conceived a “real forest” designed to mimic the natural forest that once covered the island. Today miles of…
Established in 1974, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge consists of over 112,684 acres of forested wetlands in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The 3,100 acre Lake Drummond lies at the center of the swamp, with the Feeder Ditch connecting the…
Pocahontas Island, named after the legendary Native American princess, is probably Petersburg's earliest predominantly African-American neighborhood. It is a peninsula located on the north side of the Appomattox River within the limits of Petersburg. Some of Petersburg's…
Truly, it is a cornerstone of the American story. That story, however, is marred by a dark and…
Virginia’s history is made up of revolutionaries, brave thinkers and passionate doers of all…
