African Americans in the Shenandoah Valley

Undated photo of a man identified as Pap Dandridge or "Uncle Stephen"

Handley Regional Library

The Shenandoah Valley’s history is incomplete without the stories of African Americans. For three centuries African Americans lived, worked, built, and died in the Valley. Stories centered in the park spread across the Valley and encompassed the lives of many.

The region's African American history has only recently garnered historians’ attention. Belle Grove, Inc. continues to uncover the lives of the plantation's enslaved. Learn more about people enslaved at Belle Grove »

Sources on Black History in the Shenandoah Valley

The National Park Service interprets the Valley's African American heritage throughout the year. Interpreters and historians use some of the following publications to learn more.

Source: Data Store Collection 9215 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.