Piscataqua Savings Bank is the proud supporter of over 110 Seacoast area nonprofits. We’re highlighting a few of the nonprofits doing incredible, critical work in our Seacoast community with our Seacoast Spotlight Series. Next up in our spotlight is the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) promotes awareness and appreciation of African American history and life in order to build more inclusive communities today. If you’ve ever paused by the African Burial Ground in Portsmouth or noticed the informative Black Heritage Trail historic markers, you’ve experienced their work firsthand, as one of BHTNH’s programs includes creating appropriate memorials at significant locations within the state. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire also provides a variety of learning experiences for adults and children, including school programs, guided tours, traveling programs, lectures, and workshops.
Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire Signature Programs
The Black Heritage Trail offers five signature programs, including guided tours conducted by well-trained, experienced guides who have developed key strategies for sharing and interpreting conflicting histories. Tours don’t just point out key landmarks; educators bring the stories of individual African Americans who lived in New Hampshire to life. The Trail also presents the Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks, a series of participatory lectures related to New Hampshire’s Black history and African American culture. Other programs include an annual Juneteenth celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, and an annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ historic protest speech “What to the slave is your 4th of July” in communities across the state. BHTNH also presents the Black New England Conference, an annual two-day gathering where academics, artists, activists, and community members share insights and research on Black experiences, past and present, in New England and beyond.
How to Support the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
Piscataqua Savings Bank is a proud supporter of BHTNH’s mission of building more inclusive communities today by promoting awareness and appreciation of African American history and life. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire relies on community support to visibly honor and celebrate a truer, more inclusive state’s history. Visit the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire online to donate and discover how you can be part of this historic endeavor in exploration, interpreting and sharing of New Hampshire’s African-American history.
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