Saturday, July 30, 2005
A sampling of Southern attractions and events of interest:
Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, southern Virginia; www.varetreat.com or (800) 673-8732 or (800) 368-3595. Brochure available describing a 41-stop self-guided tour of schools, churches, homes and other sites relevant to the civil rights era educational experience. Highlights include the earliest known public high school for black Virginians, found in the Petersburg area, as well as the Buckingham County birthplace of noted black historian Carter G. Woodson.
Tubman African American Museum, 340 Walnut St., Macon, Ga.; www.tubmanmuseum.com or (478) 743-8544. Features 14 galleries detailing black inventors, local historical figures, African influences on cooking and more. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adults, $5; children 12 and under, $3.
Rust College, 150 Rust Ave., Holly Springs, Miss.; www.visithollysprings.org/rust.html or (662) 252-2491. Oldest historically black college in the state, established in 1866 as Shaw University for the education of freed slaves on the site of slave auctions campground for Grant's troops. Home to more than 400 pieces of African art, sculptures and masks; tours by appointment.
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, 600 N. Second St., Richmond, Va.; www.nps.gov/malw or (804) 771-2017. Restored to its original 1930s appearance, the site features the home of the first woman in the United States to charter and serve as president of a bank. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, 1600 Chappie James Way, Tuskegee, Ala.; www.nps.gov/tuai or (334) 724-0922. Combines audiovisual programs, historic buildings and guided walks to document the experience of the U.S. military's groundbreaking group of World War II era black pilots. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.