Burwell School Historic Site Homecoming & 50th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic site with local food, live music, guest speakers, and community history.

The Burwell School of Hillsborough was in operation from 1837 to 1857. It educated the girls of wealthy white families, including the Camerons, the Easleys, and the Mangums. The site was worked by dozens of people of color, both free and enslaved. The most famous among them was Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who went on to purchase her own freedom and become a dressmaker (and close friend) to First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. On Saturday, October 3, the Burwell School Historic Site will open its doors to descendants for a “homecoming” event. The semicentennial (50th anniversary) of the historic site’s 1976 dedication will also be recognized, honoring the work of BSHS’s many staff, volunteers, and supporters. Come experience local food, music, guest speakers, and plenty of history!