New Project Celebrates American History in Culpeper, Virginia
October 18, 2022 Things to Do Updates
TOWN OF CULPEPER, Virginia – In partnership with the African American Heritage Alliance (AAHA) the Town of Culpeper, Virginia will be unveiling the new Right the Record project on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10 am – 11 am at the Culpeper Train Depot (111 South Commerce Street, Culpeper, VA 22701). This event is free to attend and open to the public. Travelers and community members will discover firsthand some of the untold stories of notable African American people and places that have shaped Culpeper’s history and community throughout the years. This new program includes a self-guided walking tour that will take visitors to 6 notable places throughout the Town of Culpeper and allow them to use QR codes to learn more.
The mission of the Right the Record project is to create an all-encompassing umbrella for projects large and small that share a common purpose to correct, add, and/or amend the histories that have been ignored, denied, and excluded. These activities will enable individuals and communities to advance reconciliation and foster a more knowledgeable community. The African American Heritage Alliance (AAHA) worked with the Town of Culpeper to create a unique experience inspired by these untold stories. The new self-guided walking tour currently features 6 historic places of note that share a connection to the community and the stories being told.
“The Right the Record project was created in an effort to balance our collective histories. Imagine a community that acknowledges and honors the histories of all its sons and daughters,” said Zann Nelson, Founder of the RtR Program and Interim President of the African American Heritage Alliance. “We are inviting visitors to immerse themselves in some of the lesser known and untold African American stories that have shaped the Culpeper community we all know and love today.”
The Right the Record project is a living project, and as such is subject to updates and edits as new information and documentation are uncovered. The current stops along the trail take travelers to visit key buildings throughout the Town of Culpeper telling the stories of what was once there, including Dr. Elijah Barber’s Medical Office, which in 1931 was home to the first and at that time only African American doctor in greater Culpeper area. Buildings on the trail include:
- Dr. Elijah Barber’s Medical Office
- Jennings Lunch and Pool Room
- Lightfoot Building
- Piedmont Lodge No. 75, Colored Masons at the McCoy Building
- Skinny Love’s Barber Shop
- The Holmes-Taylor Building
More information about the Right the Record program can be found at Right the Record Program Information
About the African American Heritage Alliance
Historians and citizens passionate about the legacy of African Americans in Culpeper, VA created an organization focused on telling the whole story. The African American Heritage Alliance (AAHA) was formed to raise awareness of Culpeper’s African American heritage through education, research, preservation, and promotion. AAHA also supports recordation and publication of related research materials. AAHA recently created a Facebook page to provide a place to share stories and learn about little known or unheard Culpeper Town and County African American history. It’s also a place to post announcements of upcoming events related to Culpeper’s African American Community. AAHA encourages and welcomes participation. Information may also be sent to [email protected].
About the Culpeper Department of Tourism & Economic Development
The Culpeper Department of Tourism and Economic Development is responsible for promoting the Culpeper community as an attractive travel destination, enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live, work and vacation. Their office also strives to enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Culpeper residents, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development, thereby expanding the tax base and creating higher-income employment opportunities.
