By the Sweat of Our Brows

Join the descendants of the Brattonsville enslaved community as they honor their ancestral continuing legacy. Throughout the day, the families will greet visitors, showcase memorabilia and share stories. Around the site, period-dressed interpreters will demonstrate what daily life was like on a plantation in the 19th century. Activities include traditional African American cooking demonstrations, woodworking, basket weaving, quilting, hands-on activities, and a musical performance.

This year will feature two panel discussions with African American and white Brattonsville descendants who have recently learned they are blood-related. They will be discussing the impact of this discovery on their personal lives as well as the projects they are working on together.

Walk-up tickets available on the day of the event.

On-Going Activities:
o Meet descendants, both Black and white, of the people who lived and worked on the Bratton family’s 19th century cotton plantation.
o Traditional African American cooking demonstrations.
o Demonstrations of woodworking, basket weaving, and quilting.
o Kids’ activities
o Interpretation of the Brick House and the “Liberty and Resistance” exhibit

Timed Activities:
o 10:30 a.m. – Calling of the Names from Harriet Bratton’s 1865 Freedmen’s List
o 1 p.m. – Musical Presentation
o 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. – A special presentation of the on-going conversations between Black and white descendants of the Bratton family about their shared history
o Noon & 3 p.m. – Tours of the 19th Century Plantation