Williamsburg Heritage Trail

Walk Williamsburg's African American Heritage Trail: an official, self-guided tour that brings local history to life as you explore the community.

Whether you're visiting for VA250, planning a school trip, or deepening your connection to Williamsburg, this app is your companion on a 3.8-mile path through 12 landmark stops. Learn, reflect, and discover the resilience, faith, education, and joy that shaped Williamsburg's African American past and present.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Follow the trail on an interactive map with the full walking route
• Get notified when you arrive at each historic stop
• Explore 12 curated stops with photos, narratives, and discussion prompts
• Watch welcome and introduction videos from community voices and partners
• Browse a heritage timeline organized by themes — faith, education, community, and joy
• Track your progress as you visit each stop
• Read stories in English or Español (México)

FEATURED STOPS INCLUDE

First Baptist Church · Braxton Court · Scotland Street · Herbert Cooke Building · Samuel Harris Cheap Store · William & Mary campus sites · Memorial to the Enslaved · Bray School · Gowan Pamphlet's Baptist Meeting House · The Triangle business district · and more.

ABOUT THE TRAIL

The Williamsburg African American Heritage Trail is presented in partnership with the City of Williamsburg, Visit Williamsburg, VA250, and the Let Freedom Ring Foundation. The trail follows the City's official map and tells stories that are too often left out of the colonial narrative — displacement, Jim Crow, urban renewal, education, worship, and community building.

Plan your visit, walk at your own pace, and let each stop open a deeper conversation about American history where it happened.

Location is used to show your position on the trail map and to alert you when you reach each stop. Background location is optional and helps notifications work even when the app is closed.