Thursday, Mar 2, 2006
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site hosted a celebration of the 188th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass on Tuesday, February 14th. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton joined NPS Director Fran Mainella and National Capital Regional Director Joe Lawler to commemorate the life and legacy of Douglass, one of the 19th century?s most eloquent and outspoken African American leaders. The program also featured a keynote address by Dr. Greg Carr, assistant professor of African American studies at Howard University, musical selections by the Ketcham Elementary School choir, presentations by the winners of the site?s annual oratorical contest, and a performance by the Kankouran West African Dance Company.
Winners of that contest, as shown in the photo above, were (left to right) Brian Forehand, 11th grade, Park Dale HS, Maryland, 1st place winner in the high school category; Darin Carter, 8th grade, Victor Jr. High School, Rochester, New York, 1st place winner in the middle school category; Andrea Johnson, 3rd grade, School #42, Rochester, New York, 1st place winner in the elementary school category; and Lanee Ivy, 5th grade, Samuel E. Wheatley, Maryland, 3rd place winner in the elementary school category. Also in the photo are Joe Lawler, regional director for NCR; Fran Mainella, director; and Gayle Hazelwood, superintendent of National Capital Parks ? East.
Frederick Douglass NHS preserves the last residence of Douglass (1818-1895), an estate he called Cedar Hill. In 2006, the NPS will begin the final phase of a multi-year restoration of the Douglass Home. The work being done will not only better protect the home and the artifacts usually displayed within it, but will also result in a more accurate depiction of the home as it appeared during the 1890s, just before Douglass? death.
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