1	Richmond Slave Trail Visitor Center Project To secure our future, we must honor our past.
2	Our Mission: Raise awareness and informational accuracy about Richmond's role in the slave trade. -Slave Trail Commission Serve the City of Richmond through the revitalization of its oldest neighborhoods and educating the public while promoting growth. -A.C.O.R.N.
3	Our Goal: Secure mutually agreed central location to create a suitable visitors center and community space. Protect historic areas from advancing deterioration through community involvement in renovation of multiple properties. Provide a suitable memorial to African Americans buried in unmarked location in Shockoe Bottom, north of Broad Street. Meet financial needs of all parties involved. This is to include ACORN, VCU, City of Richmond and Slave Trail Commission.
4	Plan Overview: Seaboard Building (City of Richmond) Renovated to become Slave Trail Visitors Center and mixed use Slave and Main Street Station Museum 1. Restored and Relocated C&O Rail Car Lumpkin’s Jail Memorial Site Winfree Cottage Restoration Site Reflection Chamber / Slavery Murals Vacant Structure To be renovated and leased as commercial space used for Coffee House and Creperie Historic Appeal fencing to separate Slave Trail sites from modern land use Richmond Gallows Memorial Site
5	Visitors Center (Site) Visitors are welcomed to the Slave Trail Visitors Center, located in Shockoe Bottom just west of Main Street Station, and south of Broad Street. Current space is a ground parking area for MCV / Virginia Commonwealth University. SITE OF ORIGINAL LUMPKINS JAIL APPROXIMATE VCU PARKING SPACE LOSS: 35 APPROXIMATE VCU LAND DONATION: 1.25 total acres
6	Visitors Center (Site) Continued Loading Dock of current Seaboard Building, 1500 East Franklin Street, built in 1909 and currently vacant, would become Center for Education and artifact museum for Slave Trail, Main Street Station and Shockoe Bottom community. Center would offer videos, brochures, and house community events and be available for private functions. Center will serve as rest and refresh area along trail and offer vending as well as cafe’ space. APPROXIMATE AREA OF CENTER: 10,000 SQ FT REVENUE: Café and Vending Contracts to be determined. Location will accept voluntary contributions. Small Gift Shop offering books, videos and Richmond novelties to include handmade goods from 17^th Street Farmers’ Market vendors.
7	Visitors Center (Site) Continued Restore and incorporate former C & O Railroad Car as exterior visual connection between Visitors Center and the modern Main Street Station. Both the Slave Trail Visitors Center and Main Street Station, built in 1901 and decommissioned in 1971, which reopened in 2004, could benefit from tourism and growth in the area. The failed “Market Place at Main Street Station” sign still adorns the side of the rail car. The car and sign could be restored and moved to a suitable location for easy visitor access.
8	Rails in Richmond Main Street Station is a well known Richmond Landmark. Rail service in Richmond has changed over the years, yet is still very important to our city. Use a portion of the center to showcase the mixed use of train services in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth. As a joint effort by the Slave Trail Commission, the River District and Main Street Station, this Visitors Center would tell the entire story of Richmond’s most historic neighborhood. This is the “Origin of Richmond” with a unique history which still lives at every corner. COMMUNITY FUND RAISING: To make this a true community based Visitors Center, allow fundraising to be handled by the community. This would include local businesses, area schools and residents.
9	Visitors Center (Site) Continued Central Location can offer readily accessible venue to City tourists, daily Financial District lunch crowd and more. Rear of center will face site of Lumpkin's Jail and future site of Winfree Cottage along with Broad Street overpass and City Gallows, site of Gabriel Prosser execution and old Negro Burial Ground. Funding provided by Grants (TBD), City Funding and Private investments along with fund raising through community and Virginia Union University.
10	Lumpkin’s Jail (Option I) Site of Lumpkin’s Jail will be memorialized by a simple brick or granite outline of original foundation in a sodden grass area with historic marker. Area will be reached through current parking lot by way of defined path from rear of Visitors Center. Area will be separated from VCU Parking Lot by simple split rail fence to offer historic appeal. Fence opening only at path entrance.
11	Lumpkin’s Jail (Option II) Using Mechanicsville’s Historic Pole Green Church as a model, create a structure depicting the original Lumpkin’s Jail. Use interior as a reflection area as well as mark location with historic marker. Honor this site as a holding and auction house. Use the structure to show the Roots of Richmond without creating a replica. The goal of this option is to secure our future, while we honor our past and to represent history without reenacting it. Surrounding area same as Option I. FUND RAISING OPTION: Create a floor for the interior of the structure out of personalized bricks purchased by citizens of Metro Richmond to become a TRUE COMMUNITY RESTORATION EFFORT. For more info, please visit: www.bricksforyourcampus.com
12	Winfree Cottage Winfree Cottage, the only remaining Slave Cottage in Richmond, will find its final resting location just north of Lumpkin’s Jail memorial site and just south of Broad Street overpass. Visitors will be able to enter this fully renovated structure during regular park hours. Cottage will be returned to original form to show living conditions of free African Americans. FUNDING AND RESTORATION PROVIDED BY GRANTS AVAILABLE, VOLUNTEER SERVICES, COMMUNITY FUND RAISING EVENTS AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.
13	Broad Street Overpass Just north of Winfree Cottage on path is the Broad Street overpass and walkway to VCU North Parking Lot. Large protected area under Broad Street will be refaced and offer backdrop for murals to be created depicting prominent former slaves and their decedents. Area will be a silent arena for reflection on history. REFACE OF WALLS PROVIDED BY CITY OR STATE FUNDING AND CREATION OF MURALS ENTIRELY PRIVATE THROUGH USE OF LOCAL ARTISTS
14	City Gallows (Site) Just north of area of reflection you reach site of Richmond Gallows and Negro Burial Ground. This area is believed to be the execution site of Slave Revolt leader Gabriel Prosser. Also, he is believed to be interred at this site. Exact site unknown, used as VCU Parking area. Original Gallows are now part of Broad Street Overpass. You can see large rock slabs which were base of structure. Pathway will turn right after Broad Street overpass and reach Gallows site. Area will only need pruning and regular maintenance.
15	Coffee Shop Vacant building at South East corner of North Parking lot was once home to a well visited coffee shop for commuters, pedestrians, and sight seers. Building would offer outdoor seating on patio overlooking parking lot, and would offer walk up or walk in service for pedestrians on the go. This would be the final option for refreshments prior to leaving Visitor Center grounds to continue trail to First African American Baptist Church. REVENUE: Coffee Shop would be independent business. Building to be refurbished and leased at prime rate. Funding for renovation to be determined. AREA DONATED BY VCU: Structure plus detached 10 spaces
16	Floodplain Concern Shockoe Bottom has a history of flooding. The most recent, from the remnants of Hurricane Gaston in 2004, proved to be more than our runoff systems could handle at the time primarily due to damage from Hurricane Isabel one year prior. Estimated flood damages in excess of $7.9 million. Richmond has drastically improved runoff and sewage control lines in the area and in August of 2007 Richmond was pronounced a Storm Ready community. Minimal concern for flooding risk should be entertained when planning this Visitors Center. Use its development to further build confidence in citizens of Shockoe Bottom regarding our Storm Safe plan. For protection of Winfree Cottage, use an twelve point rock column (10 inch) foundation with internal cable anchors for added security. A non dug foundation will also ease concerns regarding public utilities in the area.
17	Note Sources: Alliance To Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods: Multiple Press Releases VCU News Center: Multiple Press Releases Richmond Slave Trail Commission: Multiple Press Releases www.historicpolegreen.org www.discorverrichmond.com www.bricksforyourcampus.com www.1772foundation.org www.pursuecharlottesville.com www.richmondgov.com Property Search Option Plan and Details created by: Scottie R. Sibley Chairman Richmond Farmers’ Market Advancement Association 15 North 17^th Street Unit A Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 677 8918 All Rights Reserved June 18, 2008