GEORGIA BLACK HISTORY TRAIL INITIATIVE SPARKS STATEWIDE INTEREST

More than 50 Gather in Columbus to Explore a Shared Vision; July 11 Zoom Meeting Set

 

COLUMBUS, GA (JUNE 23, 2025) – More than 50 preservationists, historians, educators, and community leaders from across Georgia gathered Saturday, June 21, at Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus to participate in an interest meeting for the proposed Georgia Black History Trail Initiative.

The event, hosted by the Chipley Historical Center, the Hamilton Hood Foundation, and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, served as a grassroots effort to explore how Georgia might establish a statewide trail that honors and preserves African American history and heritage.

The session drew representatives from a wide range of organizations and agencies, including Georgia Humanities, the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ African American Programs, the Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network, and the African American Cemetery Coalition.

Attendees traveled from as far as Savannah, Gwinnett County, Macon, and Polk County, and represented sectors such as museums, archives, welcome centers, tourism, and education. Counties represented included Harris, Dougherty, Monroe, Upson, Columbia, Clarke, Richmond, Glynn, Ware, Cobb, Toombs, White, Paulding, Walker, Gilmer, Bulloch, Muscogee, Houston, DeKalb, Lee, Terrell, Decatur, Early, Mitchell, Miller, Seminole, Calhoun, Grady, Colquitt, Chatham, Polk, Gwinnett, Fulton, Troup, and Bibb.

“This event confirmed that there is not only widespread interest but also an urgent need to document, protect and promote Georgia’s African American history,” said Cindy Bowden, curator of the Chipley Historical Center. “We had participants from all corners of the state, and that level of representation speaks volumes about how much this effort is needed.”

The proposed trail will begin in Harris County, where sites of local Black history are already being identified.

Next Steps

A follow-up planning meeting will be via Zoom on Friday, July 11. The purpose of the session will be to begin outlining a shared operational plan and framework for the potential trail effort.

“This is a grassroots-led movement,” Bowden said. “Our goal is to ensure it remains community-centered and driven by the voices of those who are closest to the history.”

Individuals or organizations interested in joining the effort are encouraged to email info@chipleyhistoriccenter.org to receive an invitation to the July 11 meeting.

 

The Chipley Historical Center is located at 146 McDougald Ave, Pine Mountain, GA 31822, and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more, call (706) 663-4044 or email info@chipleyhistoriccenter.org.