The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM), in partnership with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI), is pleased to announce a new walking tour in honor of Black History Month. Black Businesses & Entrepreneurship in Fredericksburg, 1787 – Present will feature stories of African American business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Fredericksburg’s history.
Lead by Dr. Gaila Sims, FAM Curator of African American History and Special Projects, the tour will commence in the eighteenth century with John DeBaptiste and the establishment of French John’s Wharf, continue with industrious builder Henry Deane and the development of Liberty Town following the Civil War, touch on thriving Black businesses on Princess Anne Street in the mid-twentieth century, and culminate with contemporary favorites scattered across the city. Grounded in historical documentation, archival research, and individual stories, this walking tour will explore Fredericksburg’s unique contributions to the history of Black enterprise.
Lead by Dr. Gaila Sims, FAM Curator of African American History and Special Projects, the tour will commence in the eighteenth century with John DeBaptiste and the establishment of French John’s Wharf, continue with industrious builder Henry Deane and the development of Liberty Town following the Civil War, touch on thriving Black businesses on Princess Anne Street in the mid-twentieth century, and culminate with contemporary favorites scattered across the city. Grounded in historical documentation, archival research, and individual stories, this walking tour will explore Fredericksburg’s unique contributions to the history of Black enterprise.
Starting Location: HFFI Offices, 1200 Caroline Street
Ticket Price: $25 General Public/ $20 FAM+HFFI Members – Walking Tour tickets can be purchased here.
In case of inclement weather, the tour will be rescheduled to Saturday, March 4th.
Support for Black Businesses & Entrepreneurship in Fredericksburg, 1787 – Present has been generously provided by the City of Fredericksburg, as a component of City Council’s effort to tell a more complete Fredericksburg story.
