The national mission of The Slave Dwelling Project takes on a deeply local and collaborative form in the City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County.
Situated in a region rich with early American and Civil War history, this Fredericksburg-area weekend program brings together historic sites, descendant communities, scholars, and the public to explore the full and often underrepresented history of the area.
Through immersive programming — including overnight stays in extant slave dwellings, living history demonstrations, campfire conversations, and public events — the program activates historic spaces as places of dialogue, reflection, and connection. Central to this work is the intentional inclusion and elevation of descendant voices, creating opportunities for individuals and families to reconnect with ancestral spaces while helping to shape how these histories are interpreted and shared.
At a time when honest historical narratives are increasingly challenged, the Fredericksburg program ensures that the stories of the enslaved — stories of resilience, skill, family, and survival — are brought forward with clarity, integrity, and care, strengthening both community understanding and the broader national conversation about history, memory, and justice.
On Saturday, visitors can move from program to program via shuttle.
This program was supported in part by a Virginia Humanities grant.
