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Slavery museum to be built in Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg to get slavery museum.

By BETH WATERS
The Free Lance-Star

Date published: 10/8/2001

The board of directors of a proposed national slavery museum announced today that it has decided to build the attraction in Fredericksburg.

The museum will be on 22 acres near Interstate 95 in the Silver Co.’ Celebrate Virginia development, according to former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, head of the museum board. The Silver Cos. donated the land, which it values at $10 million to $12 million.

The museum board’s consultant, former U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum official Michael Neiditch, said he selected the Celebrate Virginia site because of the history of the area and its convenient location along I–95 near Washington.

The Fredericksburg City Council voted in August to pledge $1 million to the museum if the board decided to put it here.

Richmond, Hampton and Petersburg also were vying for the museum. Just last week, Rich mond offered Wilder a 22-acre tract along the James River Canal valued at $4 million to $5 million.

Plans for Celebrate Virginia call for hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions on the Fredericksburg side of the Rappahannock River and an office park and golf courses on the Stafford County side.

—Elizabeth Waters

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Date published: 10/8/2001