Free Black People in Rockbridge, Before the Civil War

Date: May 03, 2026
Time (Duration): 2:00pm (4h)

Event Description

Join the Rockbridge Historical Society and Rockbridge250 for a series of interactive events exploring the lives of Free Black People in Rockbridge & Virginia before the Civil War.

>> SUNDAY, MAY 3

2 PM, Manly Memorial Baptist Church, 202 S. Main St., Lexington
Join the Rockbridge Historical Society to explore the histories of “Free Black People in Rockbridge, 1778-1865.” A slideshow presentation by Larry Spurgeon, Cinder Stanton, and Eric Wilson will profile a number of specific, local biographies, and survey the range of different paths African Americans took to navigate and negotiate broader degrees of liberty and citizenship during the 1700s-1800s. Some Black residents were born free; others were emancipated, purchased their own or their families’ freedom, or were required to leave the state; scores took the initiative to flee at their own risk, or risk their lives fighting for the Union Army.

4 PM, Rockbridge Historical Society, 101 E. Washington St., Lexington
Immediately following the program the RHS Museum will host a special closing reception for its partnering exhibit with the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, “UN/BOUND: Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865.”
CLICK for an overview of the exhibit.

Tuesday, May 12

6 PM, Lexington Library, 138 S. Main St., Lexington
The thematic series continues with RHS’ free screening and discussion of the Oscar-nominated film "Harriet" about Harriet Tubman, the iconic abolitionist who escaped slavery and led hundreds to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

Saturday, May 16

10 AM, Long Mtn. Wayside, 9 mi. east of Buena Vista on Rte 60E
Hit the Appalachian Trail with a ranger-and-historian-guided “History Hike” to a former Freedmen’s village near the Lynchburg Reservoir.
– Note there is a relatively steep descent and return, 2 mi. each way
– Map

Monday, May 27

6 PM, Lexington Library, 138 S. Main St., Lexington
The series concludes with a discussion of the prizewinning book about a thriving Free Black Community near Farmville, VA: "Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom, 1790s-1865."

See RHS' Instagram and Facebook pages for more.