Black History Month Events in Prince William County

If you are interested in learning more about the history of African-Americans in honor of Black History Month, there are several sites here in Prince William County that can help you do just that.

For the entire month of February, Lucasville School will be offering free tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.  Lucasville School is a reconstructed, one-room schoolhouse that served African-American children between 1885 and 1926.

It was 1883 when African-American citizens living in the county petitioned the Manassas District School Board for an elementary school. Construction of the original schoolhouse was completed in 1885 and taught children in grades 1 through 6. Lucasville School is the last remaining of 12 “colored” schools built in Prince William County.

While the tours offered this month are free, donations are appreciated and go toward the support of historic preservation efforts in Prince William County. Lucasville School is located at 10516 Godwin Drive in Manassas, near the Prince William County Fairgrounds. Call 703-792-5546 for more information, including cancelations due to inclement weather.

Ben Lomond Historic Site will be open on Feb. 19 and 20 for special tours that will focus on the enslaved population of African-Americans that lived at Ben Lomond in the early 19th Century.

Tours are at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Cost is $7 per person while children under 6 are free. Reservations are not required, but tours will depart at the hour so it would be wise to get there with plenty of time to buy your tickets and get situated.

Ben Lomond was originally built in 1832 for Benjamin Tasker Chinn and was used as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. The site today holds an original slave quarters. Ben Lomond is located at 10321 Sudley Manor Drive in Manassas, near where Route 234 Business meets Interstate 66. Tours may be canceled due to inclement weather. Call 703-367-7872 for more information and tour cancelations.

Historian Dr. John Michael Vlach will give a lecture on the influence and impact of slave culture on modern traditions, on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Old Manassas Courthouse. The lecture is free to the public, though donations are welcome. Dr. Vlach is a Professor of American Studies and Anthropology at George Washington University.

Vlach has authored ten books and developed exhibitions for art museums, historical societies, and libraries across the United States. His lecture will reference his book, Afro-American Tradition in Decorative Arts, and discuss how aspects of our culture can be traced to the music and material arts of African-American slaves. The Old Manassas Courthouse is located at 9248 Lee Avenue in Old Town Manassas. Call David Born at 703-792-5618 for more information.