Interesting Places to Visit in the Valley
Historical sites for an enlightening experience for the whole family.
Josephine School Museum303 Josephine Street
Berryville, Virginia The Josephine School Community Museum and the Clarke County African American Cultural Center is housed in the former building of the Josephine City School. In the 1880s, the residents of Josephine City began to raise funds for a school to provide grade school education for African American children. The one-story school was constructed in 1882. The school was renovated in 2022 and opened in 2003 as a museum devoted to the African American history Clarke County and a cultural center. The Josephine School Community Museum mission is to connect the stories of its past with visitors seeking to learn the history of Clarke County’s Black community by offering exhibits and programs. This wonderful museum in the Josephine Historic District and is open on Sundays from 1:00pm-3:00pm. |
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Belle Grove Plantation336 Belle Grove Road
Middletown, Virginia Belle Grove plantation was constructed in the late 18th century by the Hite family. Surviving records indicate that the Hites at Belle Grove enslaved at least 276 African American men, women, and children between 1783 and 1851. Isaac Hite Jr. and his first wife, Nelly Madison Hite, received 15 enslaved people from her father, James Madison Sr., in 1783. The Hites acquired other individuals through purchase, inheritance, and birth. The Hite family kept lists of the enslaved and some of their personal information, as well as some family trees that have been able to be constructed based on obtained information. Kneading in Silence: A Glimpse into the Life of the Enslaved Cook Judah is a 30 minute presentation discussing the life of Judah, the enslaved cook of Belle Grove. Purchased by the Hite's with her two young boys, Judah remained their cook until her death in 1836. |
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Long's Chapel1340 Fridley's Gap Road
Harrisonburg, Virginia The small community of Zenda was formed through the strength and courage of former enslaved African Americans. The community was located north of the city of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County near the interaction of Fellowship Road and Fridley’s Gap Road. If you would like a tour of Long's Chapel, please contact Robin Lyttle by phone (540) 908-1020 or email robinlyttle@valleyblackheritage.org. |
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Lewis Mountain CampgroundWhere could African Americans visit during the Jim Crow Era for vacation? The "Lewis Mountain Negro Area" was a popular spot for Valley families to go to get away.
The Lewis Mountain Campground is located on Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park and was established in 1939 as a segregated “negro area” of the park. Lewis Mountain included a lodge with a dining area, cabins, tent and trailer space, picnic tables, fireplaces, and parking. The Lewis Mountain was under the management of Llyod Tutt and his wife, Mittie, for 12 years, and many of the staff were local African American residents. The campground was a popular destination for black families to vacation. In 1945, the federal government ordered full integration in all national parks. The Shenandoah National Park would not fully integrate until five years later in 1950. Mountain served as a de facto campground for African Americans on vacation even after desegregation in 1950. The significance of African American history in the park is not only profound locally, but also hold national importance. |
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Montgomery Hall Park1000 Montgomery Avenue
Staunton, Virginia Before there was Montgomery Hall Park, black citizens of Staunton could only visit Gypsy Hill Park once a year. The segregated Montgomery Hall Park had its grand opening on July 4, 1947, and was used by the local African American community until 1969, when the park was desegregated and incorporated into the rest of the Staunton parks. African Americans visited Montgomery Hall Park from across the state due to the shortage of accessible public parks, and it was one of the very few parks in the state that African Americans could visit. |
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Montpelier11350 Constitution Hwy
Montpelier Station, Virginia Montpelier is the home of President James Madison. The Gilmore Cabin is the home of George Gilmore and the first Freedman's site in the United States. Montpelier's new exhibition "The Mere Distinction of Colour" is a long overdue look into the history of the enslaved of this plantation. What makes it more powerful then most similar is that it is through the eyes of the enslaved descendants. One of the stories is about Sarah Madden. We know some of her descendants moved to the Shenandoah Valley and settled in the Linville and Zenda community. They were and continue to be important members of our community. |
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