The Gettysburg Black History Museum, Inc. was born from an extension of The Third Ward Concerned Citizens, later called Concerned Neighbors. Its purpose was to improve the declining social and economic conditions of the geographic area spanning Breckenridge, South Washington and West High Streets in the Third Ward, a political district of the Gettysburg Borough. Currently, with a board of seven members, Gettysburg Black History Museum, Inc. began and remains a grass-roots organization created to preserve, educate and inspire.
As early as the late 1700’s slaves were brought to Gettysburg as slave labor. In the course of time, others would arrive as free men. It is not widely known that while much of the nation lay in the grip of slavery, approximately 280 African Americans living a mere ten miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line lived as free men and women in Gettysburg.
Theirs is a story that has been hidden and marginalized. When brought to light it will balance American History as we know it. Many of the stories about Gettysburg’s African American community have never been told. The stories have been misrepresented or appropriated.
When these stories are shared, we will complement the telling of American History as it relates to Black Folk in Gettysburg before, during, and after the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Gettysburg Black History Museum will be launching a self-guided walking tour app in the Spring of 2021 and small bus tours through Gettysburg Group Reservations to come. We will also open a retail space and museum in the Spring of 2021.
We will be offering Living Black History events starting in May in partnership with the Gettysburg National Military Park during National Historic Preservation Week. We will continue Living Black History events throughout the summer.
