Maggie L. Walker 160th Birthday Celebration

black and white portrait photograph of an African American woman wearing a cross brooch.
Maggie L. Walker

NPS

July 2024 marks the 160th birthday of Maggie Lena Walker, Richmond's pioneering Black banker, community leader, and a woman of faith, hope, and courage. You are invited to experience two weeks of art, community events, volunteer service, and special tours, exhibits, & presentations commemorating her life and legacy.

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site has partnered with the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Gallery 5, Richmond Public Schools, Richmond Public Library, Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, and Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church to host a two week birthday celebration. See the full schedule of events below.

 
A crowd is gathered outside around the unveiling of a tall, bronze statue of an African American woman
The Maggie L. Walker statue plaza

NPS

JULY 5
Maggie Lena Walker Memoria Plaza
W. Broad St & N. Adams St, Richmond, VA 23220

First Friday Birthday Kickoff
5:00-6:00pm

The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia will kick off the Maggie Walker birthday celebration with a gathering at the Maggie Walker statue plaza on Broad Street and an historical/storytelling program and parade from the plaza to Gallery 5.

Speakers will include Melvin Jones, for Maggie Walker alumni,
Faithe Norrell for the Black History Museum & Cultural Center, and
Liza Mickens for the Maggie Walker family.
 
A 19th-century firehouse building lit up at night with crowds mingling outside.
First Friday art walk at Gallery 5

Gallery 5

JULY 5
Gallery 5, 200 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23220

6:00-11:00pm
Music and MC entertainment on the Gallery 5 stage by the Love Movement,
Axt Museum, and
Big Fancy

Maggie Walker 160th Birthday Student Art Show
5:00-11:00pm

Student art show featuring works inspired by the life and legacy of Maggie Walker, by artists from Bellevue Elementary School, Armstrong High School, and the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, as well as other original art.
 
Interior parlor of a turn of the century house, with columns, chandelier, and a horse hair sofa.
Maggie Walker's parlor.

NPS

JULY 9 - 20
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, 600 N. 2nd Street, Richmond VA 23219

160th Birthday Display
Tue. through Sat., 9am-4:30pm
The lobby of Maggie L. Walker National Historic site at 600 N. 2nd Street will feature a small exhibit of personal items that belonged to Mrs. Walker, not previously exhibited to the public.


Oral History House Tours
Tue. through Sat., 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Regularly scheduled guided tours of the Maggie L. Walker house will include the unique experience of hearing actual historical audio recordings of Maggie Walker's grandchildren, describing, in their own words, what it was like to grow up in the historic home.

Visitor Center and tour admission is free.
 
Volunteers digging in the soil of a gardern
Volunteers working in a community garden.

NPS

JULY 13
600 N. 2nd Street, Richmond VA 23219

Volunteer Day of Service
8:00-11:00am

The City of Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation will commemorate Maggie L. Walker’s birthday by staging a volunteer community service day at the park visitor center at 600 N. 2nd Street. Volunteers will assemble at the park, then be lead by city parks & rec team leaders to engage in service projects in the Jackson Ward neighborhood.

Follow the links below to learn about individual volunteer projects and to sign up to participate:
Tree Care at Abner Clay Park
Jackson Ward Trash Pickup
Gilpin Community Garden
 
Exterior of a sidewalk and front steps of building, with a sign reading "Main Library"
Main Branch, Richmond Public Library
101 East Franklin Street

Richmond Public Library

JULY 13
Richmond Public Library, Main Branch auditorium
101 East Franklin St., Richmond VA 23219

"A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Mrs. Maggie Lena Walker: A Woman for All Seasons"
lecture presented by Elvatrice Parker Belsches.
2:00-4:00pm

Cold refreshments will be served!
Free, register for the event here:
https://rvalibrary.libcal.com/event/12376274
 
An image of a 19th-century mansion overlayed with a photograph of an African American woman.

Genesis Osagboro

JULY 14
Elegba Folklore Society
101 East Broad St., Richmond VA 23219

In the Footsteps of Maggie Walker
Cultural History Tour

Sunday, July 14,
2:00 p.m.

Elegba Folklore Society creates and guides this cultural history tour as a contextual biography of Jackson Ward luminary, Maggie Lena Walker. Evolutionary from her birthplace in Church Hill to her elevation in Historic Jackson Ward, attendees have the chance to ponder black excellence and community building in early 20th century Richmond in light of its significance today.

Meet at Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 E Broad St, then travel by bus to the sites.

For tickets, visit the website of the Elegba Folklore Society.

 
A colorful flier lists the details of the Third Street Bethel event.

Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church

JULY 20
Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church
614 N. 3rd Street, Richmond VA 23219

Maggie Walker Birthday Workshops and Market Pop Up
12:00-4:00pm

"Money Smart" - Building Legacy
"Let's Get Busy" - Building Entrepreneurs

Entrepeneurs - 6-18 years
FREE VENDOR SPACE

Triva Game
Bethel Reads, "I Got Bank"

Please register for Third Street Bethel AME event at historyroom3@gmail.com

Last updated: July 10, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

3215 E Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23223

Phone:

804-226-5041

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