BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Historical Publications LLC//civilwarevents.com//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend BEGIN:VEVENT UID:voices-of-the-past-a-slave-dwelling-project-weekend-2026-2@civilwarev ents.com DTSTAMP:20260912T194354Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260911 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260914 SUMMARY:Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend DESCRIPTION:Join park staff and historic sites across Fredericksburg and Stafford to experience sites and stories associated with slavery in part nership with the Slave Dwelling Project organization. This is a collabor ative event that Fredericksburg City has selected as a signature America 250 Event. This weekend brings together historic sites\, descendant com munities\, scholars\, and the public to explore the full and often under represented history of the area. Through immersive programming—including overnight stays in extant slave dwellings\, living history demonstratio ns\, campfire conversations\, and public events—the program activates hi storic spaces as places of dialogue\, reflection\, and connection. Centr al to this work is the intentional inclusion and elevation of descendant voices\, creating opportunities for individuals and families to reconne ct with ancestral spaces while helping to shape how these histories are interpreted and shared. Visit the Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling P roject Weekend website for the full list of events\, event descriptions\ , and registration information. Programming at Chatham Saturday\, Septem ber 12\, 2026 Drop-In Events\, 1 pm-5 pm Visit the Chatham Laundry: Step inside the Chatham Laundry featuring the story of enslaved laundress El len Mitchell. Laundry Demonstrations: Visit a living history "suds row" and learn about the laundresses who performed critical and often gruelin g work. 23rd United States Colored Troops: Learn about the soldiers who claimed their freedom and then fought to keep it. Community Canvas Child ren's Activity Tent\; 3 pm-5 pm Drop by for a craft activity with the pa rtner group Community Canvas from 3 pm to 5 pm. Sparking Freedom Walking Tours\; 1 pm &\; 2 pm \, 45 minutes Meet at the Chatham garden-side entrance. Resistance to enslavement took many forms at Chatham. Discover stories of this resistance and learn about the people whose actions cha llenged oppression. The Story of Ellen Mitchell at 3 pm\, 30 minutes . L earn the story of laundress\, Ellen Mitchell\, who fundraised for her fr eedom in this joint program with a park ranger and living historian. Uni ted States Colored Troops at 4 pm\, 30 minutes. Join living historians f or a discussion of the United States Colored Troops and the enslaved man from Chatham that joined the army to fight for the freedom of others.\n \nAdmission: The programs at the park are free and open to the public. S ome event programs will be ticketed. See the event website for full desc riptions of program costs and ticketing.\n\nOrganizer: Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park\n\nhttps://civilwarevents.com/events /voices-of-the-past-a-slave-dwelling-project-weekend-2026-2 LOCATION:The Chatham program will take place at 120 Chatham Lane\, Freder icksburg VA 22405. Other programs will take place at historic sites acro ss the area. A shuttle will be available for transport between sites for Saturday's programming.\, Fredericksburg\, VA URL:https://civilwarevents.com/events/voices-of-the-past-a-slave-dwelling -project-weekend-2026-2 STATUS:CONFIRMED END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR