What We Do

The National Park Service's Chesapeake Gateways and National Trust for Historic Preservation partnership advances a common goal of sharing and saving the full American story.

In the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, newly freed African Americans faced monumental challenges to establish their own households, farm their own lands, establish community institutions and churches, and to pursue equal justice under the law in a period of racist violence. A new NPS report presents the story of the extraordinary accomplishments of rural African Americans in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

On Saturday, January 8th, 2022, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (CHYO) hosted a special event to honor the life and legacy of Colonel Charles Young on the 100th anniversary of his passing. The event took place at the Robeson Auditorium on the Central State University campus and was attended by several prominent figures from the community, as well as military dignitaries from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.

Captain Charles Young and members of the Ninth Cavalry spent the summer of 1903 in Sequoia and General Grant national parks. Captain Young was the first African American superintendent of a national park. Young and the Ninth Cavalry accomplished more that summer than the army units that served there during the previous three summers combined.

Black history is interwoven with the story of 105 Brattle Street. Since its construction, this house and its inhabitants have been shaped by slavery and influenced by the fight for Black civil rights. This research guide features detailed lists of the holdings in the Longfellow Archives and Special Collections that are connected to Black history, as well as complementary resources from the National Park Service and other institutions.

This article features examples of 700 and 800 Series buildings built for World War II mobilization. These selections exemplify the simplicity, diversity, and durability of these “temporary” buildings.

Until its destruction by fire in 1993, a rare example of a pre-Civil War African American homestead existed on the Grounds of the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Subsequent archeological excavations at the site unearthed a surprising discovery.

The A.G. Gaston Motel opened in 1954, built by prominent African American businessman and entrepreneur Arthur George Gaston. It was a significant site of civil rights activities in 1963, when it served as the headquarters of the campaign to desegregate public accommodations in Birmingham, Alabama. From the motel, leaders made critical decisions that advanced the cause of civil rights locally and shaped events and legislation nationally.

Learn about the history of preservation in Detroit and how the city addressed racial segregation in its neighborhoods.

Episode 3.2 of the National Heritage Areas Podcast explores the tradition of Watch Night, also known as Freedom’s Eve. The first Watch Night was held New Year’s Eve in 1862 in anticipation of the Emancipation Proclamation taking effect. Watch Nights are still held today, but their ties to freedom and history have largely been forgotten. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is helping to revive Watch Night’s historical and cultural ties.