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African American History Trail

Prince William, VA's unique and extensive African American history is shared through many of our historic sites and communities. Prince William County has many different layers to its history, and many individuals have shaped the County’s complex past. Their contributions have made Prince William County the diverse and inclusive community we enjoy today. The Prince William County African American History Trail will explore the stories about some of the early African American pioneers and sites in County history and their lasting impact on modern Prince William County.

We invite you to explore the history, arts, culture and contributions of African Americans along Prince William County's 

African American History Trail.

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You can also access the tour via phone by dialing (703)-440-7218 . Enter the stop number from the tour stop sign or website map to listen to the history of that stop on the trail.

 

Barnes House

  • 5049 Waterway Drive

Built in 1797, in Independent Hill, the Barnes house is typical of an average Prince William County residence at the turn of the 19th century. Moses and Nancy Copen purchased the home and surrounding property in 1834. The wealthy family owned seven enslaved Virginians in 1860. Part of the Copen's…

Barnes House

Batestown

  • 17150 Mine Road

From the late 18th to early 19th century, several free African American families in Prince William County held large tracts of land. Over several generations, these large tracts were continuously divided into smaller parcels and settled by the children of the landowners, resulting in a greater…

Batestown

Ben Lomond Historic Site

  • 10321 Sudley Manor Drive

Enslaved people lived and worked here at Ben Lomond from the colonial era to the Civil War. Besides the main building, many of its original outbuildings survive and have been restored and open to the public. The original slave quarters, constructed of stone, a rare example in Northern Virginia. An…

Ben Lomond Historic Site

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre

  • 12229 Bristow Road

Built in 1822 as the fourth county seat for Prince William County, Brentsville Courthouse was the center of all county business, voting, tax collection, civil and criminal cases alike, for the next 70 years. At Brentsville, the general public was regularly reminded of the resistance to slavery by…

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre

First Mt. Zion Baptist Church

  • 16622 Dumfries Road

Originally located in the Joplin area of Prince William County, First Mt. Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1867. From 1925-1928, one room in the church was transformed into the Mt. Zion School that taught students from both Prince William and Stafford counties. In 1947 the congregation moved and…

First Mt. Zion Baptist Church

James Robinson House

  • 6511 Sudley Road

James Robinson was a prominent individual born to an African American mother and a white father (probably Landon Carter Jr., a wealthy and influential Virginia planter). Robinson carved out a modest life as a free Black Virginian living in the Antebellum period. Although married, since his wife was…

James Robinson House

Leesylvania State Park

  • 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive

A 508-acre tract of a 2,000-acre estate originally patented in 1658, this site is significant to the Underground Railroad because of fifteen runaways and is included in the National Park Services Network to Freedom. Cate and Sinah, the 18th-century runaway enslaved persons were advertised in Virginia…

Leesylvania State Park

Lucasville School

  • 10516 Godwin Drive

In 1870, Virginia's Legislature established a statewide system of free public schools for all citizens. The Manassas District School Board authorized an elementary school for the emerging freedman Lucasville neighborhood and by 1885, a one-room schoolhouse for African American children was built…

Lucasville School

Neabsco Regional Park

  • 15125 Blackburn Road

In May 1691 Benjamin Lewis filed a complaint against William Harris in Stafford County court (at the time the area containing PWC was part of Stafford). Lewis was a Black servant on Harris’ Prince William County plantation. Lewis claimed that he was free in England, and had been brought Virginia…

Neabsco Regional Park

Old Manassas Courthouse

  • 9248 Lee Avenue

The Old Manassas Courthouse located at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Lee Avenue in Old Town Manassas is the fifth County courthouse and County seat in Prince William County. The courthouse and County seat was moved to Manassas in 1897 and this building was used as the County courthouse until…

Old Manassas Courthouse

Manassas Trail Head

Pick up the African American history trail in historic downtown Manassas. Visit the Manassas Museum for details on the city’s rich African American heritage…

aerial shot of the outside of the Manassas Museum

Black History & Heritage Events

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Black Owned Businesses

Black Owned Businesses

Irie Caribbean American

  • 14561 Jefferson Davis Highway

Irie Caribbean American Restaurant is a Caribbean restaurant located in Woodbridge, Virginia, specializing in authentic…

Irie Caribbean American

Maaza 29

  • 14630 Lee Highway

At Maaza 29 we've set out to create an intellectually provocative cuisine, one that is clear of ethiopian dining…

Maaza 29
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