Preservation Virginia Blog

Jun
29

Preserving LGBTQ Historic Sites in Virginia

In 1999, the Stonewall Inn located at 51 and 53 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, became the first LGBTQ site of significance listed to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, the site was named a National Historic Landmark, and in 2016, President Obama announced the establishment of the Stonewall National Monument to commemorate …

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Jun
17

Voices Remembered: Agnes Spurlock

This Juneteenth, 156 years ago, news of the abolition of slavery finally reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas. Despite President Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, news and implementation of the new law struggled to reach the far corners of the divided nation. As such, millions of enslaved people remained …

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Apr
9

Late Nights at the John Marshall House

By Ben Lovelace Museum Educator, John Marshall House April 1, 2021 On Saturday, March 27, 2021, the John Marshall House had the pleasure of hosting the Center for Paranormal Research and Investigation (CPRI) from five o’clock in the evening until midnight, as they conducted an on-site investigation of the first and second floors of the …

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Mar
26

Women’s History Month – An Interview With CEO Elizabeth S. Kostelny

March, 2021 As part of Women’s History Month, we had a ‘virtual sit down’ with Preservation Virginia CEO, Elizabeth S. Kostelny. Elizabeth, who is celebrating 30 years with Preservation Virginia, has gained an incredible amount of insight and wisdom during her tenure. As a woman at the top of her field, there was much to …

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Feb
10

Helping Preserve Historic African American Schools

By Sonja Ingram, Preservation Field Services Manager In 2019, while Preservation Virginia was completing our survey of Rosenwald Schools in Virginia, we met David Rainey. David, who has spent countless hours researching local African American school sites, was gracious enough to take us to visit fourteen schools in Mecklenburg County, nine of which were Rosenwalds.  …

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Jan
29

Marriage Announcement!

Dearest readers, perhaps you have seen the news: Miss Susan Colston, niece of the great Chief Justice John Marshall, is to be married! Undoubtedly, the grey silk gown she was spotted in at a recent event encouraged Mr. Benjamin Watkins Leigh to ask that all-important question.  Forget Daphne Bridgerton of 1813 London – meet fashionable …

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Dec
22

Christmastide at the John Marshall House

Since the holidays will look different for many families this year, let us look back and examine how Early Americans like Chief Justice John Marshall, his family, and the enslaved community who supported the household, celebrated the holiday. Which customs and traditions sound familiar to you and your family, and which have faded into obscurity? …

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