News Release

The Reconstruction Era National Historic Network Announces the Addition of Three New Sites

Strieby Congregational Church is one of the recent additions to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network

Strieby Congregational Church

News Release Date: January 31, 2023

Contact: Nathan Betcher, 843-592-0370

Contact: Scott Teodorski, 803-767-0534

BEAUFORT, SC- The National Park Service announces the addition of three new sites to Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network connects sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research related to the period of Reconstruction. The Reconstruction Era (1861-1900) is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood periods in American History and includes stories of freedom, education and self-determination. 

The new community sites are located in Texas, North Carolina, and Washington, DC, and represent a wide range of compelling Reconstruction stories 

• Located in Washington, DC, the African American Civil War Museum helps share the story of members of the United States Colored Troops. At a time when the US military was still segregated, the numerous regiments of the United States Colored Troops were involved in combat operations in various campaigns and theatres of the Civil War.  In the early days of post-war Reconstruction, USCT units remained on garrison duty in areas of the South to help enforce the peace.  Many veterans of the USCT went on to become prominent community leaders after mustering out of service. Learn more at www.afroamcivilwar.org 
• Founded by Dr. Andrea Roberts in 2014, The Texas Freedom Colonies Project is a research, educational, and social justice initiative dedicated to preserving the spaces within and heritage of Texas’ historic African American settlements.  These Freedom Colonies – 557 in total - were founded by African Americans in Texas between 1865-1930 during Reconstruction and the subsequent rise of Jim Crow.  The website is an ArcGIS, StoryMap-based platform and is currently the state repository of historical Black settlement data. Using archival data crowdsourced from the public, the Project aims to fill knowledge gaps and make visible African American places, schools, churches, cemeteries, and histories in the public record and provides a publicly accessible map and data clearinghouse for descendants. You can visit the project at http://www.thetexasfreedomcoloniesproject.com 
• The Strieby Church, School, and Cemetery Cultural Heritage Site in Asheboro, North Carolina is the site of a church and school founded by Rev Islay Walden, “The Blind Poet of North Carolina” in the 1880s, and a community of formerly enslaved people grew up around the church and school.  

“The inclusion of these sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network represents the reach of Reconstruction,” said Superintendent Scott Teodorski, “From the heroism of Black Civil War soldiers to the growth of communities across the Carolinas and Texas, Reconstruction is truly a national story”

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, signed into law on March 12, 2019,  outlined the creation of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This network, managed by Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, includes sites and programs that are affiliated with the Reconstruction Era, but not necessarily managed by the National Park Service. This network is nationwide and works to provide opportunities for visitors to connect to the stories of Reconstruction.

For more information about the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/reconstruction/network.htm.