United States National Slavery Museum facts for kids
The United States National Slavery Museum was a plan for a museum that would teach people about slavery in America. It was never built because it couldn't get enough money.
Plans in Fredericksburg, Virginia
In 2001, a group was started in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This group was a non-profit organization, meaning it didn't aim to make money. Its goal was to raise funds and work to create a national museum about slavery in the U.S..
On October 8, 2001, Douglas Wilder announced his idea. He was the mayor of Richmond, Virginia at the time. He wanted to build the National Slavery Museum in Fredericksburg. A company called Silver Company gave 38 acres of land for it. This land was part of a big shopping and tourism area. The spot looked over the Rappahannock River. It was also close to Interstate 95, a major highway on the U.S. East Coast. The museum was first planned to open in 2004. It was meant to be part of a state project called "Celebrate Virginia."
In 2005, the Fredericksburg City Council set a deadline. Construction had to start by August 1, 2008. This was to keep a special permit for the building. This permit allowed the museum to be taller than usual. The museum project made its last tax payment in May 2008. The next day, the director asked to delay building for one year. This would push the start date to August 2009.
In June 2008, the project asked to not pay real estate taxes. They wanted this to apply from 2002 onwards. But the City Council said no to this request. 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 aimed to help people understand its lasting effects. Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder started this museum project. The project basically 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. This meant they needed legal help with their money problems. In early 2011, Douglas Wilder stopped answering questions. He did not talk to reporters or people who had given items 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 denied tax-exempt status. This meant they had to pay taxes. From that time, taxes on the land were not paid. The property was at risk of being sold by the city of Fredericksburg.
In August 2011, news reports said the museum property was worth $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 by December 31, 2010. The state planned to announce its intent to sell the property. But a tax official said nothing would likely happen for six months. The sale would be stopped if the taxes were paid. Then, the organization filed for bankruptcy in September. It was not clear if they wanted to reorganize or sell everything.
On October 21, 2013, two sports groups bought the land. These were the Hagerstown Suns and Diamond Nation. As part of the deal, Fredericksburg city received $450,000. This money covered the back taxes the museum owed.
Another Idea: The Richmond Plan
The former Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, promised $11 million. This money was for a National Museum of Slavery in Shockoe Bottom, in Richmond, Virginia. The museum needed over $30 million in total. This proposed project would include the museum. It would also have new businesses, homes, a Kroger grocery store, and a baseball stadium. The goal was to help improve an area that needed development.
The National Museum of Slavery would be built next to a slave graveyard. It was also near what is thought to be the second-largest slave trading station in U.S. history. New Orleans had the largest. In February 2014, the Richmond City Council voted. They agreed to spend $5 million to honor slave-history sites. This added to the $11 million from Governor McDonnell. This plan did not include money for the baseball stadium. However, a newspaper writer said in June 2015 that "the idea went nowhere." This means the plan did not happen.
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