This morning, we stumbled upon a treasure chest of wonder. The state parks page for New York State compiled a list of historic sites that explore NY’s rich Black History. What a wonderful idea to print this list out and during our February break go on a road trip and dig into our history.
“There is a rich heritage of Black history all around us to explore. Black History Month however often finds people returning again and again to the same figures and places. Martin Luther King Jr., Selma, Alabama, and Fredrick Douglass to name just a few of the top contenders. Great as they are, they represent a fraction of the amazing people and places that have impacted the state’s and the nation’s cultural landscape. For 2022 how about delving into New York’s Black history by visiting locations in person or digitally.”
Here are a couple right in our back yard:
Sojourner Truth at Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Poughkeepsie/Highland: Although many people think she was from the South, Sojourner Truth was actually born and raised in Ulster County and grew up speaking Dutch. In August of 2020, a bronze statue of her was unveiled at the main entrance of Walkway Over the Hudson, in Highland, NY. You can visit her statue there and learn more about her life and Vinnie Bagwell, the sculptor who created her. Have You Met Sojourner Truth?
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany: In 1793 a good portion of the City of Albany burned down. Three enslaved Africans were accused of setting the blaze. What are people thinking? How do they feel? In this fictionized drama based on historic evidence, see how the community of enslaved and free, African and European manage this tense time. The Accused: Slavery and the Albany Fire of 1793.
Crailo State Historic Site in the Capital Region: Pinkster, the oldest and first documented celebration enjoyed by enslaved and free Africans and their decedents well into the 19th century was popular not just in Albany but throughout the region. Learn more about this exciting event and start planning now to celebrate this May. Blogpost: Reviving a Dutch Holiday with African Flavor.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in the Hudson Valley: The mission of the newly reopened National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor is to collect, preserve, and share the stories of all Purple Heart recipients. There and online you can learn about our brave service men and service women including men like Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first African American naval aviator. You can also learn about registering a Purple Heart recipient for the Roll of Honor. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
Fort Montgomery State Historic Site in the Hudson Valley offers a glimpse into the life of Benjamin Lattimore, one of the few known Black soldiers to fight in the Revolutionary War battle that took place at Fort Montgomery. Fort Montgomery State Historic, Facebook Site
Stephen & Harriet Myers Residence, Albany, Albany CountyThe Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence was a headquarters for Underground Railroad activity in the Capital Region in the mid-1850s, as documented by a Vigilance Committee flier that has survived from that period with additional historic records. Today the site is operated by the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region as a historic site where the community can learn about the Underground Railroad, the first integrated Civil Rights movement in the United States, and its relevance to today. This site is the recipient of a 2015 NYS Historic Preservation Award and was also featured in the “We Are NY” series. and the Underground Railroad Education Center