Connections Through Art

Join a Park Ranger from Petersburg National Battlefield for a special Black History Month program. Learn how David and Elizabeth Bowser used their artistic skills as a part of their activism. Discover how their art supported the United States Colored Troops. Explore how mastery of skills helped improve African American lives and their communities. Attendees will discover how African American entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to philanthropy helped uplift African American lives, combat slavery, and promote social justice. This program is an opportunity to honor local artisans' legacy and reflect on the ongoing pursuit of equality in our society. We’ll also highlight other historic Black artisans and tradespeople, like Elizabeth Keckley, a seamstress from Dinwiddie County who gained prominence in the abolitionist movement, Thomas Day, a skilled cabinetmaker and woodworker from Dinwiddie, and John Dabney, a renowned chef and caterer from Richmond. Their dedication to their crafts and their communities serves as a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of African Americans in the face of adversity.