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Release Date: For Immediate Release
Contact(s): Emmanuel Dabney
(804) 732-3531 ext. 200
Date: June 29, 2007
The Life and Work of Petersburg’s Enslaved Walking Tour
On July 7, at 1:00 p.m., a walking tour will begin at the 1839 Petersburg
Courthouse on Sycamore Street in Petersburg. The program begins at the
historic Petersburg Courthouse where participants will learn about the most
significant Underground Railroad trial to take place in Petersburg. Following the
presentation at the Courthouse, the .25 mile walking tour will include visits to
the site where slaves were hired, and the home of Hugh Garland, owner of
Elizabeth Keckly, seamstress to Mrs. Varina Davis and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln.
In 1860, Petersburg was Virginia’s second largest city with more than 18,000
residents. Of the total population, 5,680 were enslaved people and 3,244 were
free men and women. The lives of these people were always under the control
of the state and local government and yet they managed to create their own
lifestyles. By the tour’s end there will be a greater understanding of the living
arrangements and work of those who were enslaved but not living on farms
and plantations.
This event is the result of a partnership effort between the City of Petersburg
and Petersburg National Battlefield. Seven more programs are scheduled for
this year and the “Homefront Event Calendar” is available at any of the
Petersburg Museums or Petersburg National Battlefield Visitor Centers.
There is no fee for this program and no reservations are necessary. For more
information, please call Park Ranger Emmanuel Dabney, at (804) 732-3531 ext.
200.
Petersburg National Battlefield was created in order to commemorate the
campaign and siege and defense of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864 and 1865.
The park staff is committed to preserving and protecting the historical,
cultural, and natural resources within the park in a manner that will provide
interpretation, education, and enjoyment for the visitors.
Sincerely,
Emmanuel Dabney
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