Revised African American History Trail Opens In Prince William

WOODBRIDGE, VA — The African-American History Trail is open in Prince William County, just in time for Black History Month. The trail was originally established in 2010, but has been revised for 2021 with a total of 20 historic sites across the county.

The trail is a joint effort of the Prince William County Historic Preservation Division and the Prince William Office of Tourism. The history trail's 20 historic sites are scattered throughout the county, and cover African-American history from the 17th century to the present day.

Rob Orrison is the historic preservation division manager in Prince William County. He says that the trail had not previously seen much use by area residents, but the number of local visitors has increased since the start of the pandemic.

"We definitely have seen an uptick with local traffic because of COVID," Orrison said. He noted that while people often explore the historical aspects of areas they visit, people were less likely to visit the historical markers in their own backyards.

Orrison also stated that the African American History Trail is a great activity for residents looking to get out of their houses and explore the area, especially during COVID. "It's something that people can do on their own time," he said. "All those places on the trail are open from sunrise to sunset."

Orrison also stressed that the trail contains a variety of sites, and does not have to be completed in any particular order. "Some of the sites are churches, some are cemeteries, some are historic parks," he said. The different sites cover topics ranging from history, arts, culture, and other contributions of Black Americans to the history of the county.

The Prince William Historic Preservation Division is hosting many events across the county for Black History Month in February. Special events are occurring every weekend in February.

The Lucasville School will be hosting open houses every weekend in February. The one-room schoolhouse was established in 1885 as a public school for African American children.

On Feb. 13, the county will be giving tours of the Brentsville Courthouse, with a focus on the experiences of African Americans in the 18th century. Brentsville was the county seat prior to 1893.

More information on these events, and the full list of tours and programs being offered by the county can be found on their website.