Join us to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition from the Library and The JXN Project titled “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History.” The exhibition explores the story of Abraham Peyton Skipwith, the first Black homeowner in the area that would be known as Jackson Ward after the Civil War, and the subsequent removal of his house in advance of the construction of the Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike. This history anchors a larger national story of Black American experience from the founding of the nation through the Jim Crow era.
The opening celebration features information booths from community partners, guided tours of the exhibition and a panel discussion with the exhibition team on the origins of The JXN Project and the exhibition, the historical importance of Jackson Ward, the legacies of the destruction of Jackson Ward and the future of The JXN Project.
Schedule of Events
4:00 p.m. | Guided Exhibition Tours & Information Booths
5:45 p.m. | Welcome & Partners’ Remarks
6:15–7:15 p.m. | Panel Discussion with The JXN Project co-founder Dr. Sesha Joi Moon; Dr. Gregg D. Kimball, former director of the Library’s Public Services & Outreach division and senior consulting historian for the Shockoe Institute; Barbara Batson, exhibition coordinator; Catherine Fitzgerald Wyatt, education and outreach manager; and Ashley Ramey Craig, community engagement & partnerships specialist
This is a free event. Seating in the Lecture Hall is available on a first come, first served basis. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov
