Fredericksburg Area Museum to Celebrate Grand Opening of Living Legacies
Fredericksburg, VA (May 5, 2025) — The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest exhibition, Living Legacies, on May 30, 2025. This powerful, community-focused exhibition celebrates the lives, contributions, and stories of African American changemakers in the Fredericksburg region, past and present.
Living Legacies: African American History in the Fredericksburg Area aims to tell the overarching story of Fredericksburg by detailing, contextualizing, and celebrating the civic contributions of its African American community. Artifacts, images, and first-person narratives combine to create a multifaceted depiction of experience that centers the community’s resilience, creativity, joy, and accomplishments.
Developed in response to community calls for more inclusive historical interpretation, Living Legacies fills a critical gap in Fredericksburg, a diverse city with no museum solely dedicated to African American history. Curated by Dr. Gaila Sims, the exhibition is the result of deep collaboration with local families and reflects her commitment to telling these stories with respect, accuracy, and care.
“Living Legacies is more than an exhibition—it’s a vital multi-faceted project honoring the full story of Fredericksburg,” said Sam McKelvey, President & CEO of the Fredericksburg Area Museum. “We’re proud to stand with our community in celebrating the enduring impact of African American voices, past and present.”
To celebrate the opening of Living Legacies, FAM will host a block party on Friday, May 30th from 5:00-9:00pm at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and in Market Square, located at 907 Princess Anne Street. The event is free and open to the public and will include remarks, refreshments, and a first look at the exhibition.
Atlantic Union Bank is the proud exhibition sponsor for both the Living Legacies block party and the Living Legacies exhibit for its entire duration. The Fredericksburg Area Museum is grateful for their generous support, which makes this significant community celebration possible.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Dr. Gaila Sims, Vice President of Programs & Interpretation and Curator of Living Legacies, please email her directly at [email protected]. For interviews with Sam McKelvey, President & CEO of the Fredericksburg Area Museum, please contact him at [email protected].
Members of the press who would like to attend the event are encouraged to contact Kelli Carneal at [email protected] for more information. To learn more about the Living Legacies exhibition, visit FAM: Living Legacies.