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

On 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.

Immediately following the program (4 PM, 101 E. Washington St., Lexington), 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." May 12 (6 PM, Lexington Library, 138 S. Main St., Lexington). For an overview: tinyurl.com/Exhibit-Free-Black-Virginians

Immediately following (4 PM, 101 E. Washington St., Lexington), 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." May 12 (6 PM, Lexington Library, 138 S. Main St., Lexington). For an overview: tinyurl.com/Exhibit-Free-Black-Virginians

On May 12 (6 PM, Lexington Library), the thematic series continues with a free screening and discussion of the Oscar-nominated film about Harriet Tubman continues RHS’s monthly series of Revolutionary Films, 1776-2026.

On May 16, hit the Appalachian Trail with a ranger-and-historian-guided "History Hike" to a former Freedmen’s village near the Lynchburg Reservoir (10 AM, Long Mtn. Wayside, 9 mi. east of Buena Vista on Rte 60E; relatively steep descent and return, 2 mi. each way). Map at: https://tinyurl.com/RHS-AT-Hike-FreedmensVillage.

On May 27 (6 PM, Lexington Library), 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.