Reclaiming History – Declaring Dignity

In commemoration of Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, in partnership with the American Independence Center and Exeter Historical Society, invites the public to join us for a moving, immersive journey through New Hampshire’s Black Revolutionary War history.

Three opportunities to participate:

Opening Ceremony & Musket Salute

Sunday, June 28 | 10:00 AM | Langdon Park | Portsmouth, NH | Free

Join us as we launch the day with an opening ceremony and a musket salute, presented by the Acton Minutemen, led by re-enactor Jason Roomes. This public gathering commemorates the revolutionary era and sets the stage for exploring New Hampshire’s Black Revolutionary history.

Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Guided Bus Tour: Reclaiming History, Declaring Dignity

Sunday, June 28 | 10:30 AM–3:00 PM | Cost $55 pp

Following the opening ceremony, tour participants will board a bus for a guided tour through Portsmouth, Newmarket, and Exeter, exploring the lives of Black patriots including Prince Whipple, Wentworth Cheswell, Jude Hall, and others.

Tour Cost Includes:

Transportation, Guided interpretation, Special Programming at the American Independence Center, and Lunch

Advance registration required.

Interactive Living History & Exhibit

Sunday, June 28 | 1:00 PM | American Independence Center | Exeter, NH | Free

Meet Prince Whipple, portrayed by Keith Mascoll, and explore the special exhibit presented by the American Independence Museum that powerfully explores the Unrepresented Voices of the American Revolution.

This special poster series exhibit pulls back the curtain on the complexities of early American liberty. Through historic documents, maps, and interpretive panels, visitors will discover the stories of the women who sustained the home front, the Indigenous Nations fighting for ancestral sovereignty, and the Black patriots who stood at the critical center of a war for freedom they were often denied.

This program is free and open to the public.

Bus tour participants will visit this program as part of their tour.  Separate attendance is welcome and encouraged.