African American Heritage Trail Martha’s Vineyard

The African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard is a physical entity comprised of 30 sites dedicated to the formerly unrecognized contributions made by people of African descent to the history of the island. At each of these sites, a descriptive plaque has been placed. We are also a non-profit corporation, the African American Heritage Trail History Project, which is dedicated to the research and dissemination of the history of the African American people of Martha’s Vineyard. A vital part of that work is to identify sites and provide bronze plaques honoring that site as deeply significant to the story of people of color on Martha’s Vineyard. The History Project serves as a source of participative community education and celebration. For several years, the history classes at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School were involved as research assistants in the work of the Trail and acted as tour guides, site maintenance staff, mural painters, web site developers, and musicians. Several graduates of that program now work with us during the summer season to share their knowledge with our visitors. We continue to work in the Island schools. The Mission of the Trail is to continue to research and publish previously undocumented history and to involve the Island community in the identification and celebration of the contributions made by people of color to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. In pursuit of that goal, we have identified and celebrates sites in every town on Martha’s Vineyard. Four sites were dedicated in 2018. The expense of building the Trail is considerable and some income is generated through the sale of our book: available from this site, Island book stores, and Amazon.com, and from our active tour program. Contributions to the Heritage Trail are gratefully accepted and used to further develop the Trail. Since our beginning in 1998, we have developed a community education program in many of the Island schools, and in media. We also actively advocate for students in the Island schools and speak in support of issues that we view to be fundamental to the dissemination of accurate and inclusive history. One of our important goals is to provide economic opportunity for Island people through employment on our cultural heritage tourism program. As part of our interest in education, we offer scholarships each year to students from the graduating class.

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