Public Square meeting on building a slave heritage site

Tuesday (tonight) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Times-Dispatch building.

May 13, 2014; 10:45 AM • by Richard Hayes

The official title is “How to build a great slavery heritage site in Richmond” and it will be the topic of a Public Square on Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 300 E. Franklin St.

Prior to last week discussions on the site for a museum (seen above) were focused on and tied with the Shockoe Economic Development Plan and its new baseball stadium. Former Governor/Mayor Wilder through another wrinkle into the discussion by suggesting that his U.S. National Slavery Museum be revived and put it in the former First African Baptist Church at East Broad and College streets. This despite having no formal discussions with the owner of the property VCU.

Speakers scheduled for the discussion include:

John W. Martin, president and CEO of the Southeastern Institute of Research, whose report for the Greater Richmond Chamber found that successful black history centers are usually accompanied by other development that helps drive visitors;
Stacy Burrs, CEO of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, which is in the process of transforming the Leigh Street Armory into the museum’s new location;
Del. Delores L. McQuinn, a Democrat who represents Virginia’s 70th District and is chairwoman of the city’s Slave Trail Commission;
David Ruth, superintendent of Richmond National Battlefield Park and the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site; and
S. Waite Rawls III, co-CEO of the American Civil War Museum, which was created last year by merging the Museum of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Center.

More details and background at RTD.