Tryon Palace

The Tryon Palace will develop an interpretive program based on the experiences of the United States Colored Troops during the American Civil War. The interpretive program will include educational materials, teacher training opportunities, and public events to share the important roles played by contraband and freed men willing to wear a uniform, fight, and die for the cause of freedom. The project concept comes directly from leaders within the African American community who desire a program to teach young men within their community about their heritage, involve them in community programs, grow the inclusive and diverse outreach programs of Tryon Palace, and lead an effort to better understand the United States Colored Troops' impact. Success of the project will be the creation of a community of learners who are invested in their region's history, learning the roles of African American leaders in forging freedom, and who see the long-term value of history in their community.