Exhibits

  • A Tale of Two Women during the Battle of Cedar Creek
    In 1913, writer Clifton Johnson traveled along a path that took him through key moments in the Civil War, talking to ordinary people along the way and capturing their stories. In his book, Battleground Adventures, published in 1915, he shares the story of a black woman who recounts living through the Battle of Cedar Creek at Belle Grove in 1864. This exhibit shares her short but powerful story.
  • Ann Tunstall Maury Hite
    Belle Grove has a collection of letters that Ann Tunstall Maury Hite both wrote and received, which provide a glimpse into what life may have been like in the Shenandoah Valley during the early 1800s. This exhibit explores Mrs. Hite’s life through her own words, from her family, to her faith, to her views on the enslaved workers at Belle Grove.
  • Honoring Belle Grove’s Enslaved Community
    In January 2021, Robin Young and Kristen Laise started researching, writing, and producing online profiles that shared the historical data collected, the connections made, and the conclusions drawn as Belle Grove continues to try understanding the lives of the individuals enslaved by the Hite family. This exhibit is an archive of these profiles.
  • Mary Briscoe Baldwin
    Born at Belle Grove Plantation 1811, Mary Briscoe Baldwin was the first unmarried female missionary to travel abroad in 1835. She was a missionary, an educator, a sister, a friend, a caretaker, and an entrepreneur. This exhibit follows Mary’s journey from Middletown, Virginia to Athens, Greece and from Athens, Greece to Joppa, Syria (which is modern-day Tel Aviv, Israel).
  • The Jackson Family:  A Story of Resilience & The Enduring Love of Family
    Ever since historians at Belle Grove found Emanuel Jackson’s freedom papers in the University of Pittsburgh Libraries “Free At Last” online exhibit, they have been fascinated by his family’s story from enslavement at Belle Grove to freedom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This exhibit begins to tell a story that unfolded from a single digitized document.
  • When A Trumpet Cries
    This compelling original play by playwright, Bleu Do’zia, offers a powerful and unexpected portrayal of Abba, an enslaved woman at Belle Grove Plantation. This show delves into the complexities of Abba’s life, moving beyond conventional depictions to reveal a nuanced and multifaceted individual. Bleu navigates the delicate and vital task of authentically conveying Abba’s story with sensitivity and depth. Adding another layer to the creative process, the play also explores the dynamic between Bleu and her dramaturg, Joanna, as they work to bring this important story to the stage under the pressure of a looming deadline.

    This exhibit features a recording of the play’s opening night on June 13, 2025, as well as an interactive learning activity called Abba, Enslavement, and Having Hard Conversations for high school students that aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs).