Appomattox Court House National Historic Site

Appomattox Court House National Historic Site is the location of where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, marking the beginning of the end of the American Civil War.  This site is not only important for the Confederate surrender.  It was the home of many enslaved peoples.  This site is run by the National Park Service, and though no historic signage interpreting the enslaved and Black history has yet been taken down, it could be under threat from the current administration and efforts to change the narrative at this site.  After speaking with the NPS volunteer running the visitor center, they said that they have heard nothing as of yet in regards to the removal of interpretive signage at Appomattox.

 

Entrance and Visitor Center

Interpretive sign at the entrance walkway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interpretive panel in the Visitor Center about Colonel Ely Parker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silhouette mural in the upstairs exhibit at the Visitor Center.

 

 

 

 

 

Pamphlet on the USCT in the Visitor Center (front).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pamphlet on the USCT at the Visitor Center (back).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clover Hill Tavern Slave Quarters

These enslaved quarters used to be a public restroom. The NPS has closed this as a restroom for future renovation to be interpreted as what the structure really is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McLean House Kitchen and Slave Quarters

McLean Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior of the McLean Kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McLean House quarters for the enslaved. This dwelling was closed at the time of my visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isbell House and Jones Law Office Site

Isbell House interpretive panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jones Law Office, future home of the Robinson family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robinson Family interpretive panel at the Jones Law Office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robinson Family Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robinson Family Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

Slave Auction Site at the Court House

Although there is no marker or interpretive panel at this site, the site is marked on the park map. The caption on the map reads “‘Court Day’ was held on the first Thursday after the first Monday of each month in Appomattox. County residents could watch legal cases inside the courthouse. Next to the courthouse was the farmers market. Also outside of the courthouse at this social event, people of African descent were auctioned off along with cattle.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virginia State Highway Markers at Appomattox Court House National Historic Site

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books in the gift shop

As part of the direction from the Trump Administration, gift shops are supposed to be reviewed for the removal of any items that have to do with “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  As of now, the gift shop at Appomattox still has items related to “DEI”.