Exploring African-American History
Day One
The day begins at with the Plantation Tour at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. In the early 19th century, the success of this plantation was largely dependent on its slave population. After the Civil War, Oatlands became a refuge for relatives, friends and emancipated slaves left homeless. This outdoor walking tour offers visitors a glimpse of the lives and efforts that supported "the big house" and in turn how "the big house" supported the many broken lives after the war.
Before departing Leesburg, consider a stop at the Loudoun Museum. Enjoy a tour and exhibits representing slavery and freedom in Loudoun County. Highlights of the exhibit include the Liberian Movement, the Underground Railroad and John W. Jones.
Are you hungry for more history and perhaps a little lunch? From Thai to Cajun to burgers and fries, you're sure to find a quaint eatery in Old Town Manassas to satisfy your palate. After lunch in this historic rail town, take a brief walk to the Manassas Museum. Midway between Washington, D.C. and the Shenandoah Valley, Manassas has a rich heritage, vividly depicted in exhibits, programs, historic artifacts and photographs. Two video programs, A Place of Passages and A Community At War, describe the settlement of the area and legacy of the Civil War.
Another interesting stop is The Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial. Born a slave in western Prince William County in 1894, Jennie Dean realized her dream of creating a school where young African-American men and women could learn marketable trades. This outdoor memorial and exhibits are open every day, year round.
Your final stop today is Sully Historic Site. In 1794, 30 slaves lived and worked at Sully Plantation, the home of Richard Lee Bland, Northern Virginia's first congressman. Slaves on the farm were field hands, domestics and skilled artisans. A variety of living history programs are held throughout the year, highlighting aspects of both gentry and slave daily life.
Ready for a little R&R? You've come to the right place. Choose from any number of Northern Virginia lodging options to rest up for tomorrow's tour. From bed and breakfasts to high-rise hotels, Northern Virginia offers a variety of places to rest your head. For evening entertainment, you have plenty of choices. Shop 'til you drop at an outlet mall; enjoy a dinner cruise on the Potomac; experience a live performance at an area dinner theatre.
Day Two
Today, your tour starts at the Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial, and the gravesites of John F. and Robert Kennedy, be sure to visit Arlington House at the highest point in the Cemetery. Here you will learn about Freedman's Village, which was founded in 1865 to help newly freed slaves make the transition from slavery to freedom. You can now view a replica of Freedmen's Village at Arlington House.
From Arlington, take a short drive south along the George Washington Parkway to Alexandria. Your first stop is the Ramsay House Visitors Center where you can pick up a free copy of the new "A Remarkable and Courageous Journey: A Guide to Alexandria's African American History." This Guide leads you through three centuries of African American sites in Alexandria. For lunch, there are a variety of restaurants located throughout Old Town. Ask for a recommendation at the Visitor Center. Next, visit the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Dedicated to Alexandria's African Americans and their contribution to the growth of the city, this passive park allows for quiet contemplation and mediation.
Visit the nearby Bruin "Negro" Jail, one of the most prominent slave dealers of the early 19th century to explore the story of the Edmonsons, two enslaved sisters who attempted to escape the bonds of slavery in 1848, but were captured, then purchased and freed by their father with the help of Henry Ward Beecher and Northern abolitionists. Your tour wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Alexandria Black History Resource Center. Originally built as a result of the first sit-in strike for Civil Rights in America in 1939, this library became the nucleus of the Resource Center. Today, the Center seeks to research and preserve the history of Alexandria's African American heritage.
Your final stop on this tour takes you on a short drive south of Alexandria to Mount Vernon. This estate of George Washington was a self-contained community including 20 enslaved African-Americans in 1750; by 1799, their numbers grew to more than 300. Rebuilt structures show sleeping quarters, a shoemaker's shop and a museum annex containing artifacts highlighting the daily live of slaves. Near General Washington's tomb is one of the few monuments to slaves in America. Consider scheduling a special group tour that highlights slave life at Mount Vernon.
The day begins at with the Plantation Tour at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. In the early 19th century, the success of this plantation was largely dependent on its slave population. After the Civil War, Oatlands became a refuge for relatives, friends and emancipated slaves left homeless. This outdoor walking tour offers visitors a glimpse of the lives and efforts that supported "the big house" and in turn how "the big house" supported the many broken lives after the war.
Before departing Leesburg, consider a stop at the Loudoun Museum. Enjoy a tour and exhibits representing slavery and freedom in Loudoun County. Highlights of the exhibit include the Liberian Movement, the Underground Railroad and John W. Jones.
Are you hungry for more history and perhaps a little lunch? From Thai to Cajun to burgers and fries, you're sure to find a quaint eatery in Old Town Manassas to satisfy your palate. After lunch in this historic rail town, take a brief walk to the Manassas Museum. Midway between Washington, D.C. and the Shenandoah Valley, Manassas has a rich heritage, vividly depicted in exhibits, programs, historic artifacts and photographs. Two video programs, A Place of Passages and A Community At War, describe the settlement of the area and legacy of the Civil War.
Another interesting stop is The Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial. Born a slave in western Prince William County in 1894, Jennie Dean realized her dream of creating a school where young African-American men and women could learn marketable trades. This outdoor memorial and exhibits are open every day, year round.
Your final stop today is Sully Historic Site. In 1794, 30 slaves lived and worked at Sully Plantation, the home of Richard Lee Bland, Northern Virginia's first congressman. Slaves on the farm were field hands, domestics and skilled artisans. A variety of living history programs are held throughout the year, highlighting aspects of both gentry and slave daily life.
Ready for a little R&R? You've come to the right place. Choose from any number of Northern Virginia lodging options to rest up for tomorrow's tour. From bed and breakfasts to high-rise hotels, Northern Virginia offers a variety of places to rest your head. For evening entertainment, you have plenty of choices. Shop 'til you drop at an outlet mall; enjoy a dinner cruise on the Potomac; experience a live performance at an area dinner theatre.
Day Two
Today, your tour starts at the Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial, and the gravesites of John F. and Robert Kennedy, be sure to visit Arlington House at the highest point in the Cemetery. Here you will learn about Freedman's Village, which was founded in 1865 to help newly freed slaves make the transition from slavery to freedom. You can now view a replica of Freedmen's Village at Arlington House.
From Arlington, take a short drive south along the George Washington Parkway to Alexandria. Your first stop is the Ramsay House Visitors Center where you can pick up a free copy of the new "A Remarkable and Courageous Journey: A Guide to Alexandria's African American History." This Guide leads you through three centuries of African American sites in Alexandria. For lunch, there are a variety of restaurants located throughout Old Town. Ask for a recommendation at the Visitor Center. Next, visit the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Dedicated to Alexandria's African Americans and their contribution to the growth of the city, this passive park allows for quiet contemplation and mediation.
Visit the nearby Bruin "Negro" Jail, one of the most prominent slave dealers of the early 19th century to explore the story of the Edmonsons, two enslaved sisters who attempted to escape the bonds of slavery in 1848, but were captured, then purchased and freed by their father with the help of Henry Ward Beecher and Northern abolitionists. Your tour wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Alexandria Black History Resource Center. Originally built as a result of the first sit-in strike for Civil Rights in America in 1939, this library became the nucleus of the Resource Center. Today, the Center seeks to research and preserve the history of Alexandria's African American heritage.
Your final stop on this tour takes you on a short drive south of Alexandria to Mount Vernon. This estate of George Washington was a self-contained community including 20 enslaved African-Americans in 1750; by 1799, their numbers grew to more than 300. Rebuilt structures show sleeping quarters, a shoemaker's shop and a museum annex containing artifacts highlighting the daily live of slaves. Near General Washington's tomb is one of the few monuments to slaves in America. Consider scheduling a special group tour that highlights slave life at Mount Vernon.