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We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum

We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum
We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum
We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum
We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum
We Make History: Anacostia Community Museum
WASHINGTON — The Anacostia Community Museum, one of the Smithsonian museums dedicated to exploring the rich history, culture, and experiences of local communities, was a new opportunity to learn, reflect, and appreciate the stories that shape our shared history.
 
The museum recently reopened with several new exhibitions; each offering visitors a unique perspective. On the Record explores how communities preserve their histories through photographs, oral histories, newspapers, music, and personal archives, demonstrating that history is often recorded by those who live it. Portals to the Past invites visitors to discover connections between the past and present through objects, places, and personal stories that reveal the enduring impact of history on our daily lives. Game Changers and Scorekeepers celebrates the individuals, organizations, and communities that have transformed sports, highlighting how athletics can inspire social change, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for future generations. District of Creativity showcases the remarkable artistic talent, innovation, and cultural expression found throughout Washington, D.C., celebrating the people and neighborhoods that make the nation's capital such a vibrant creative community. Together We Make History reminds us that history is created every day through the actions of ordinary people. By sharing our stories, preserving our experiences, and supporting our communities, we all contribute to the historical record.
 
Each exhibition encourages visitors to see history not as something confined to the past, but as something we continue to create together every day.
 
 
 

Carter Family Cemetery

Carter Family Cemetery
Carter Family Cemetery
Carter Family Cemetery

VIENNA, Va. — Hidden among the neighborhoods of Tysons, the Carter Family Burial Plot is the last surviving physical reminder of the Carter family and the once-thriving Freedom Hill community.

In 1842, Keziah Carter, a woman of Tauxenent/Pamunkey ancestry, purchased 50 acres of land here after securing the freedom of her enslaved husband, Robert Carter. At a time when Black and mixed-race families faced extraordinary legal and social barriers to land ownership, the Carters established a home and farm that became the heart of Cartersville, one of Fairfax County's earliest free Black communities.

Their descendants left a lasting legacy. During the Civil War, Lucy Carter carried manumission papers to prove her free status and was granted special Union travel passes in 1864. Historians believe she may have served as a Union informant, helping support the Union cause during one of the nation's most turbulent periods.

Today, the Carter Family Burial Plot at 1737 Key West Lane, Vienna preserves the resting place of this pioneering family. Although only one headstone—Millie Carter Whales—remains visible, historical records indicate that several members of the Carter family are buried here. Preservation efforts continue to ensure that their story is not forgotten.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/716

 

Freedom Hill — Cartersville, the Freedom Hill Redoubt & Freedom Hill Park

Freedom Hill — Cartersville, the Freedom Hill Redoubt & Freedom Hill Park
Freedom Hill — Cartersville, the Freedom Hill Redoubt & Freedom Hill Park
Freedom Hill — Cartersville, the Freedom Hill Redoubt & Freedom Hill Park
Freedom Hill — Cartersville, the Freedom Hill Redoubt & Freedom Hill Park

VIENNA, Va. — Freedom Hill was one of Fairfax County's earliest free Black communities, where generations of free African American and mixed-race families built homes, farmed the land, and shaped their own future long before the Civil War.

Located near what is now Tysons, Freedom Hill earned its name from the unusually large number of free Black residents who called these hills home. Families such as the Carters and Dobsons established a thriving community through perseverance, manumission, self-purchase, and birth into freedom. Their proximity to Washington, D.C., provided opportunities and connections that helped sustain this extraordinary settlement.

During the Civil War, Freedom Hill's residents strongly supported the Union. In 1864–1865, Union soldiers constructed Redoubt Freedom Hill, a small fort overlooking Chain Bridge Road to help defend the approaches to Washington. Though the fort never saw major combat, its name permanently recognized the community's identity and legacy. Among the community's notable residents was Lucy Carter, a free woman of color who carried her manumission papers at all times and is believed by some historians to have served as a Union informant.

Today, visitors can explore Freedom Hill Fort Park (8531 Old Courthouse Road), where the original earthworks remain alongside interpretive exhibits installed in 2021 as part of Fairfax County's Untold Stories program. The exhibits honor the Carter, Dobson, and other Freedom Hill families while recognizing the community's Tauxenent heritage.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/716

 

 

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Member Preview

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Member Preview
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Member Preview
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Member Preview

WASHINGTON — Another great evening in DC as we previewed the newly reimagined Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. From legendary aviation milestones to the future of space exploration, it's always inspiring to experience the stories, technology, and innovation that have shaped our world—and continue to define what's next.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/643

 

 

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church — Oldest Black Church in Fairfax City

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church — Oldest Black Church in Fairfax City
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church — Oldest Black Church in Fairfax City
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church — Oldest Black Church in Fairfax City

FAIRFAX CITY, Va. — Founded on May 15, 1870, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church stands as one of Fairfax County's most enduring symbols of faith, resilience, and community.

Established by formerly enslaved men and women who settled near the Fairfax County Courthouse after the Civil War, their very first act of freedom was not to build homes for themselves—but to build a house of worship. That powerful commitment became the foundation of a congregation that has faithfully served the community for more than 155 years and during the era of segregation and Jim Crow, Mt. Calvary was much more than a church. It became a vital center for Black civic leadership and the fight for civil rights in Fairfax County.

Originally located near today's Route 123, the congregation moved to its present home on Chain Bridge Road in 1957. A Virginia historical marker nearby commemorates the church's early baptismal site on Accotink Creek, where members were baptized through the 1930s.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/714