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BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL

Valerie Cunningham The Black Heritage Trail is a self-guiding walking and driving tour recounting the history of blacks in the New Hampshire Seacoast area and is the result of 30 years of diligent and painstaking research done by local historian and founder of the African American Resource Center, Valerie Cunningham.

The impetus for the project was a development grant presented by the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation. Other cooperating organizations include the New Hope Baptist Church, the Strawbery Banke Museum, the Blues Bank Collective and many, individuals who have come forth to work together on this wonderful celebration of black history and education in New Hampshire.

The trail was previewed at the 1995 Portsmouth Blues Fest with a huge positive response, especially from school teachers, and opened officially in the spring of 1996. This project is an on-going community effort ... Contact Valerie if you would like more information or if you would like to participate.

Stops on the Black Heritage Trail.

Contact persons/organizations
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER
Valerie Cunningham, director (603) 431-2768

THE BLUES BANK COLLECTIVE
TJ Wheeler, Executive director (603) 929-0654

STRAWBERY BANKE MUSEUM
Kathleen Stiso Mullins, director of research (603) 433-1129

Seacoast, NH Black History

The Blues Bank Collective is a W.C.Handy Award
winning blues education organization whose mission is:
  • To further awareness of Blues Music and its African American heritage
  • To show the historic context that gave birth to the Blues
  • To use the music as a means of positive social change
    And, whenever possible, to eliminate all forms of racism, intolerance and prejudice.

    • Partner logos
    Blues Music Assoc Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Blues Foundation Year of the Blues
    DRAWING: B. J. Johnson (1906-1986) was a great Portsmouth bluesman and teacher, as well as an inspiration to all who knew him. Art by Steven Lee.
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    Blues Bank Collective
    PO Box 4076
    Portsmouth, NH 03802
    Voice:  603-929-0654
    Email:  tjw@bluesbankcollective.org
    Web:  www.BluesBankCollective.org
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