Echoes of the Enslaved

The Office of Archaeology hosts this annual commemoration to address the lasting legacies of chattel slavery in Prince George’s County. The multi-day event moves to a different historic property managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation each year and highlights themes and research important to that site.

  • 2019: Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park (Public Archaeology)
  • 2020: Montpelier House Museum (Legacies of Enslavement and Colonization)
  • 2021: Marietta House Museum (The Pursuit of Liberty)
  • 2022: Riversdale House Museum (Descendants, Genealogy, and Wellness)

The Echoes of the Enslaved events are held in partnership with The Slave Dwelling Project, a non-profit whose vision is to encourage a “more truthful and inclusive narrative of the history of the nation that honors the contributions of all our people." Joseph McGill, founder of The Slave Dwelling Project, has taken his message of historic preservation and heritage to over 23 states and Washington, D.C., ensuring that the brave stories of enslaved families will be shared with future generations. Each year, Mr. McGill leads facilitated conversation circles at Echoes of the Enslaved where participants discuss the legacies of slavery on this nation.

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Echoes of the Enslaved Conversations & Archaeology

A man and a girl holding a small object at an archaeological dig site
A crowd of people watching a panel discussion underneath a large tent
A group of people in camping gear sitting around a campfire at night
Five people in conversation at an outdoor archaeological dig site
Four panelists sitting on stage with mics and speakers under a tent
A large yellow tent setup outdoors in the evening
Small rock-like archaeological artifacts in a container with a mesh metal bottom
Two young women with shovels digging at an archaeological site
A young girl in a pink shirt under a tent at an archaeological dig site
A woman in a crowd speaking into a microphone at an panel event
Three people outdoors sitting in camping chairs at night
A woman sitting in a camping chair outside at night
A group of people in folding chairs around an outdoor fire pit at night
Two seated men in conversation on stage outside
A crowd of people sitting outside on a brick patio listening and watching a panel discussion

Revisit Previous Echoes of the Enslaved Events and Videos: