The Fredericksburg and Stafford regions are hosting Voice of the Past: Slave Dwelling Project from September 11 through 13. The programming will acknowledge the legacy of enslavement and resilience.
The Slave Dwelling Project is part of Fredericksburg’s America 250 programming. It includes 10 historic sites with activities, ceremonies, and artwork meant to educate attendees about African American history.
The Slave Dwelling Project is a national nonprofit dedicated to guaranteeing the lives of the enslaved are fully recognized as central to the American story. Founder and historian Joseph McGill, Jr. will be speaking on Saturday, September 12, at 10 a.m. at George Washington’s Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg. McGill will discuss the project and purpose behind his work.
Immersive programming includes an overnight stay in a slave working space, living history demonstrations, and campfire conversations.
“We hope people leave the weekend with a deeper and more personal understanding of the people whose lives and stories are connected to Fredericksburg and Stafford,” says Victoria A. Matthews, tourism stadium and sports sales manager and tourism sales manager for the City of Fredericksburg. “So much of our history is told through famous names, major events, and historic buildings — this weekend gives us an opportunity to look more closely at the people who lived and labored in these places, whose stories have not always been given the same attention.”
Feature image of Mary Washington House Kitchen courtesy City of Fredericksburg
