Celebrate Black History Month With Elderhostel

Days of Discovery

Finding Your Roots: A Non-traditional Approach (Washington, D.C.)
Program # 18031 – February 11 and February 24, 2009, Cost $79

Do you know where you are from? Not the town you were born in or the city you call home. We’re talking about before the Middle Passage and the time of slavery in the Americas, the place where your bloodline originated and the roots of your family tree truly began. Many people know they come from Africa but cannot claim a specific ancestral homeland. That is, until now! Join the President and Co-founder of AfricanAncestry.com as you explore the challenges of defining family identity and learn about the technology that is erasing those barriers. This program covers traditional genealogy methods and the use of DNA to determine ancestry. Three lucky participants will receive an ancestry tracing kit in advance and will have their maternal ancestry results revealed during the program. Other participants will have the option to purchase kits at the program.

National Park Exploration of Black Beacon Hill History (Boston, MA)
Program # 18036 – February 6, February 11 and February 13, 2009, Cost $79

View the historic homes, businesses, schools and churches that once were a part of Beacon Hill’s thriving black community. Through expert insight and guided exploration, learn what made their story worth telling. Boston African American National Historic Site is comprised of the largest area of pre-Civil War black owned structures in the U.S. It has roughly two dozen sites on the north face of Beacon Hill. These historic buildings were homes, businesses, schools and churches of a thriving black community that, in the face of great opposition, fought the forces of slavery and inequality. The Black Heritage Trail explores the history of the 19th-century free Black community of Boston. The trail consists of 14 sites and begins at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Beacon Street.

Snapshots

Philadelphia's African American Roots: Art, History and Culture (Philadelphia, PA)

Program # 13662 – February 12 – 15, 2009, Cost: $678

This stirring program features special exhibitions, performances, and guided visits to historic sites. Trace the African American experience from Revolutionary War days through the Abolitionist Movement, the Underground Railroad, and the tumultuous 20th century. Explore cultural institutions including the African American Museum. Other field trips focus on Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, Rev. Charles Tindley (the Father of Gospel Music who wrote “We Shall Overcome”), and musical legends such as classical singers Marian Anderson. We’ll also take in a jazz club.

A Taste of Atlanta’s Theater, Arts, History and Music (Atlanta, GA)

Program # 15556 – February 26 – March 1, 2009, Cost: $655

Satisfy your appetite for the arts in this sophisticated city with lots of Southern hospitality that is also one of America’s most active cultural communities. After an overview of Atlanta social history and the exciting local scene, take in a play at a popular theater. Discover a new “high” at the High Museum of Art, with its extraordinary collection and special exhibitions. In addition to other presentations and field trips during Black History Month, this program will include the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame and the Apex Museum. Theater, music and museums — this is your delectable taste of Atlanta!

5 Night Programs

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial: From Civil War to Civil Rights (Washington, D.C.)

Program # 16329 – February 1-6, 2009, Cost: $1,099

Celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth with scholars and authors who explain how the Great Emancipator changed our society. Commemorate his life at the Lincoln Memorial and view artifacts on display at the National Archives. Explore the Lincoln Cottage, visit Lincoln Theatre and get expert insight into the night of his assassination. Survey works about Lincoln at the Library of Congress and view art pieces highlighting him in the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. Learn from experts about Lincoln’s personal life, portrayal in popular culture and relationship with his family, and examine the 16th president’s interpretation of the Constitution with authors who discuss their books and perspectives. The program includes a visit to Frederick Douglass House and will include a lecture led by Sylvia Cyrus, Executive Director of ASALH, on the historical significance of Lincoln and the creation of Black History Month.

Amelia Island: Golden Age on a Golden Isle and the Battles for Amelia (Fernandina Beach, FL)

Program # 12011 – February 15 – 20, 2009, Cost: $661

Uncover the colorful characters and fascinating stories of the Victorian Era on Amelia Island through local tales and visits to historic churches and mansions. Explore our 19th-century historic district and learn about local architecture and modern historic preservation efforts; relive remarkable stories of international intrigue as you learn how French, Spanish, British and pirate adventurers battled for control of Amelia's coveted harbor. This includes an intriguing glimpse of the Civil War from a very unusual perspective, as well as a visit to a historic plantation and Civil War-era fort overlooking Cumberland Sound. This program includes a lecture by James Longacre, an expert in African American Studies and his wife, Mikolean, who is a professional artist.

Savannah’s Rich Heritage, Remarkable History and Memorable Music (Savannah, GA)

Program # 11376 – February 15-20, 2009, February 22-27, 2009, Cost: $922

Explore the streets, squares and amazing architecture of beautiful Savannah: Georgia's earliest settlement — founded by General Oglethorpe — and America's first planned city. Learn about Savannah as shaped by war, environment, restoration, and people. Guided walking field trips through the Historic District, to a museum home and picturesque city sites, offer personal encounters with Savannah's long journey. Uncover colorful history, from generals to ghosts. Enjoy variations of your favorite tunes as they developed over the years. Each generation has a musical style reflecting its era. Relax to the rhythms of yesteryear as we appreciate music that shaped our nation. In addition to other presentations and field trips during Black History Month, this program will include the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and the First African Baptist Church. Let your senses surrender to Savannah, quintessential city of the South!

Revolutionary War in South Carolina, Charleston Architecture, and the Gullah Experience (Charleston, SC)

Program # 9580 – February 15 – 20, 2009, Cost: $594

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