Building Community, Honoring History

Pictured: African Burying Ground Memorial Park in Portsmouth, NH

Using New Hampshire's History to Connect Communities

The stories we haven’t heard shape the connections we’re missing. Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire brings those stories to life, helping us uncover a more complete and truthful history. From walking tours led by our expert Sankofa Scholars to interactive events and self-guided explorations, every experience inspires understanding, belonging, and action. Join us in creating bonds of understanding for stronger, more inclusive communities.

Join us for the 20th Black New England Conference

Sobering and eye-opening, the Black Heritage Trail forces us to question those we have traditionally considered heroes, and to elevate those who have been marginalized instead.

Jodi Picoult New York Times best-selling author, Frommers’ Best Places 2021: Great Authors on Our America

Programs

More Than Just a Trail

View All Events

Upcoming Events

View Full Calendar

August 22, 2026

Exploring Dover’s Black History Tour

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Jenny Tibbits (they/them)
Town: Dover, NH

Dover is steeped deep in rich Black history. On this tour, you'll hear about the people enslaved by the Waldron family and how the cotton mill built in Dover fueled slavery in the South. You'll discover the Brown/Mitchell family: Nellie Brown Mitchell (renowned Black opera singer), her brother Edward Brown, (lawyer, who submitted to Congress a petition for a national anti-lynching bill and first Black justice of the peace in New Hampshire), and her husband Charles Mitchell (Civil War hero and first Black person elected to the Massachusetts legislature).

Join us to discover their amazing stories of community, resilience, and courage.

Meeting Place: Woodman Museum | 15 Summer St, Dover, NH.

August 22, 2026

A Knock at Midnight: Black Preacher as Orator | Traveling Tea Talks

A Knock at Midnight: Black Preacher as Orator

The Black preacher has long held a sacred and central role in African American public speech. Beyond their role as religious leaders, preachers have historically served as political voices, cultural transmitters, community organizers, and skilled rhetoricians. This dialogue explores how the pulpit evolved into both a sanctuary and a platform for liberation, influencing the moral and political discourse within communities.

This conversation will take place in the church where renowned abolitionist, scholar, and Pan-African visionary Alexander Crummell once preached. Crummell founded the first independent Black Episcopal church in Washington, D.C., and was a former student of Noyes Academy—New Hampshire’s first integrated and coeducational school, established in 1835.

August 23, 2026

A Walking Tour of Exeter’s Racial History

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Barbara Rimkunas
Town: Exeter, NH

Walk in the footsteps of Exeter's earlier generations and explore the racial history of the town -- the conflicts, concessions, and changes that have taken place over time and continue to shape its future. Learn about Exeter's legacy related to Atlantic slave trading and hear stories about African Americans who helped shape the town's history.

Learning Exeter's history can contribute to a richer community dialogue about its present and future.

Meeting Place: Exeter Town Hall | 10 Front St, Exeter.