Ridgeland ~ Central of Georgia Railway: The African American Experience

Central of Georgia Railway: The African American Experience

Join Emily Beck with Coastal Heritage Society for a 45-minute lecture plus Q&A session examining African American stories specific to Savannah’s Central of Georgia Railway. Ms. Beck will highlight individual workers such as John Wesley Whitaker, the Central’s first African American locomotive engineer. With the use of primary source materials, such as historic site photographs and related artifacts, this lecture will provide participants with an overview of the history of African Americans working for the Central from its inception in the 1830s through the Civil Rights era. This lecture will also address Georgia State Railroad Museum’s plans for future interpretive exhibits and programs, guiding programming, and new artifact acquisitions related to African American railroad workers.

Admission to the event is free; however, advanced registration is requested due to limited space. To register call the center at 843-284-9227.
http://www.morrisheritagecenter.org/events/