NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 14, 2019) – In recognition of Juneteenth – the American holiday commemorating the announcement of the end of slavery in the U.S. – Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage will host daylong programs on June 22 that will include speakers from the national preservation group, The Slave Dwelling Project.
Through hands-on demonstrations, storytelling and conversations throughout the day, speakers from The Slave Dwelling Project, including the organization’s founder, Joseph McGill, will provide in-depth insights to Hermitage visitors about what daily life was like for slaves, including those who were enslaved at The Hermitage.
At four different times throughout the day, guests will be able to walk with historians from The Hermitage and take guided tours of the location’s slave dwelling sites and other sites on the property that were a part of slaves’ daily lives. During the 45-minute tour, attendees will learn about the archaeological research that has been conducted at The Hermitage’s slave dwellings and hear about individual stories, struggles and achievements of members of the home’s former enslaved community.
The day’s commemorative activities will end with an evening of conversation by campfire with McGill and The Slave Dwelling Project’s team about their work to bring attention to the importance of preserving slave dwellings across the country. McGill will discuss his experiences sleeping in the homes of former slaves at more than 90 sites in 18 states. The community is invited to sit by the campfire and partake in an honest and thought-provoking discussion about these spaces and the legacy of slavery.
While all ages are welcome to join the campfire event, the conversation will be most suited to those in high school and older. Attendees are welcome to bring camp chairs or blankets. Benches and hay bales will be available until filled, and in the event of rain, the program will move indoors.
All Juneteenth programs are free for members or with paid general admission. For more information, visit https://thehermitage.com/event/juneteenth-commemoration-2/ and https://thehermitage.com/event/campfire-conversation-with-the-slave-dwelling-project/.
Juneteenth Programs at The Hermitage
Inalienable Rights: History Through the Eyes of the Enslaved
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Open Hearth Cooking & Foodways
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Juneteenth and Emancipation: What It Was ... and What It Wasn’t
10 a.m.–11 a.m.
Slave Dwellings: Adapting to Reconstruction
Noon–1 p.m.
“The Chronicles of Adam” with Dontavius Williams
2 p.m.–3 p.m.
Slavery at The Hermitage Tours
11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Campfire Conversations with The Slave Dwelling Project
6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
About Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President is one of the largest, most well-preserved and most visited presidential homes in the United States. Opened to the public in 1889, The Hermitage is one of America’s first presidential museums. Today, The Hermitage is a 1,120- acre National Historic Landmark with more than 20 historic buildings, including Jackson’s mansion and tomb, restored slave cabins, a church, and gardens. In recent years, new interpretive initiatives and educational programs such as the history of slavery have enhanced the experience of nearly 230,000 annual visitors. For more information, visit www.thehermitage.com.
Media Contact:
Ann Dee Jones
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Home of the People’s President
(615) 889-2941, ext. 223
ajones@thehermitage.com