United States National Slavery Museum facts for kids
The United States National Slavery Museum was a plan for a museum to remember and teach about slavery in America. It was meant to help people understand this important part of history.
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A Museum Idea in Fredericksburg
In 2001, a non-profit organization started in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Their goal was to raise money and work to build a national museum about slavery in the U.S..
On October 8, 2001, Douglas Wilder, who was the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, shared his plan. He wanted to build the National Slavery Museum in Fredericksburg. The Silver Company donated 38 acres of land for it. This land was near the Rappahannock River and close to Interstate 95. The museum was first expected to open in 2004. It was planned to be part of a big development called "Celebrate Virginia."
Why the Fredericksburg Plan Didn't Work
In 2005, the Fredericksburg City Council set a deadline. Construction had to start by August 1, 2008. This was so the project could keep its special permit. This permit allowed the building to be taller than usual. The museum project made its last tax payment on May 15, 2008. The next day, the director asked the City Council to delay building for one year.
In June 2008, the project asked to not pay real-estate taxes. They wanted this to go back to 2002. But the City Council said no on June 24, 2008. By the end of that year, the museum's offices in Fredericksburg were empty. A local newspaper reported in February 2009 that the offices had very few staff.
The museum's main goal was to teach people about slavery in America. It also wanted to show how slavery still affects things today. Douglas Wilder, a former Virginia Governor, started this museum project. The project stopped in 2008. It could not raise enough money to pay property taxes or start building. On September 22, 2011, the organization filed for bankruptcy. In early 2011, Douglas Wilder stopped answering questions from reporters. He also did not respond to people who had given artifacts to the museum.
Work on the museum stopped in 2007. Only a small "Spirit of Freedom Garden" was finished. In June 2008, the museum was not given tax-exempt status. This meant they had to pay taxes on the land. The taxes were not paid, and the property was at risk of being sold.
By mid-August 2011, the museum property was worth about $7.6 million. The unpaid property taxes for 2009, 2010, and 2011 were over $215,000. Virginia tax officials said the property could be sold for taxes after December 31, 2010. The organization filed for bankruptcy in September 2011.
On October 21, 2013, the Hagerstown Suns baseball team and Diamond Nation bought the land. The city of Fredericksburg received $450,000 from this sale. This money covered the unpaid taxes from the museum project.
A New Plan in Richmond
In 2024, Mayor Levar Stoney announced "The Shockoe Project." This project includes a new National Slavery Museum. The City of Richmond set aside ten acres in Shockoe Valley. This area will tell the story of slavery and freedom in Richmond.
More than $40 million from the state, city, and foundations was made available. The first $11 million was set aside by Governor Bob McDonnell in 2011. The first part of the project, the Shockoe Institute, opened in 2025. It is located on the ground floor of the Main Street Station.
Next, the area of the former Lumpkin's Slave Jail will be dug up. A pavilion will then open to tell its story. The African Burial Ground will also be set aside. This area will have a memorial for 300,000 people. These people were sold and "shipped downriver" between 1830 and 1860.
Finally, a 62,000 square foot National Slavery Museum will be built. The Shockoe Project is currently underway. It is expected to take ten years to finish.
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