Henrico African-American History Initiative

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Henrico County African-American History Initiative Henrico County, VA Population: 280,581 Immense civil awareness of African-American history was generated with the Henrico County African-American Initiative. To precede and encircle the 400th anniversary of Henrico County, the Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks along with the Board of Supervisors, the Henrico 2011 Commemoration Advisory Commission and the African-American Sub-Committee created this project to enhance citizen awareness of the African-American History enveloped within Henrico County, develop a signature program for February 2011 to showcase the lives of African-Americans who contributed to the development of Henrico County and to educate citizens about Henrico County. These objectives were accomplished through the renovation and the re-opening of the Museum in Memory of Virginia Randolph, a “Remembering Our Legacy: African- American Trailblazers of Henrico County” panel exhibit and opening reception, a citizen planned two day “African-American History of Henrico County in Music and Stories” tribute, the relocation and preservation of Springfield School and the first African American heritage bus tour. The Henrico County African-American History Initiative was enjoyed and welcomed by the public. The 2011 Legacy Exhibit tribute event hosted between 6,000-8,000 guests with most guest viewing the exhibit. The re-opening reception was enjoyed by over 100 guests and 47 passengers embraced the Heritage bus tour. The Henrico County African-American History Initiative provided immediate and long term results with compiling African-American history and preserving two historic structures.