May 31, 9 AM ~ Trail of the Enslaved Peoples

Anticipated weather conditions on hike day
The Richmond Slave Trail is a walking trail that chronicles the history of the trade of enslaved Africans from Africa to Virginia until 1775, and away from Virginia, especially Richmond, to other locations in the Americas until 1865. It begins at Manchester Docks, a major port in the massive downriver Slave Trade that made Richmond the largest source of enslaved Africans on the east coast of America from 1830 to 1860. The trail follows a route through the slave markets of Richmond, beside the Reconciliation Statue commemorating the international triangular slave trade, past Lumpkin's Slave Jail and the Negro Burial Ground.
We will rendezvous at the Ancarrow's Landing parking lot on the historic South Side of the river and East of Interstate 95 to trace the approximately two mile route that newly arrived Africans followed from the point of disembarkation at the Manchester Docks to the Slave Auction Grounds. Our route will take us west to the Mayo Bridge and up Fifteenth Street to the Main Street Station area.
Part of the hike will take us along the Richmond Flood Wall from which there are great vistas of the Richmond skyline and sightings of many varieties of waterfowl, an eagle's nest and maybe recently arrived river otters near the Floodwall. After visiting the former site of the infamous Lumpkin's Jail, the slave auction, the African Burial Grounds and Main Street Station, we will continue to Eighteenth Street and observe the North Portal of the C & O Railroad Tunnel, aka The Church Hill Tunnel, which collapsed on a work train on October 2, 1925.
Over and back this will be a 4.7 mile hike mostly over paved walkways, bridges and riverside paths , however, hikers should be able to negotiate uneven surfaces, rocks, roots, low hanging vines, cobble stones, fallen trees, wet grass and poison ivy (in season). This hike will begin at the posted time, not five or ten minutes later. If you are unfamiliar with the meet up location, add a few minutes to your travel schedule so you can find us. Before the hike be sure to place anything that might invite theft in your trunk before you leave your car parked while you are hiking.
How do I get to Ancarrow's landing you ask? From the intersection of Commerce Road and Maury Street, follow Maury North to where it meets Brander Street (where the road passes under I-95). Pass through the flood wall gate and proceed East on Brander Street for 0.7 mile keeping the Richmond Wastewater plant on your right. The road turns left as it ends and passes over two railroad tracks into the clearly marked Ancarrow's Landing parking lot (watch out for pot holes!).
Or you can make it easy on yourself if you need help on directions by clicking on the arrow found under "How to Find Us" to display a larger interactive map. When you select "Directions" (left) the best route from your location to the Meet Up rendezvous spot will be calculated for you. Look for the red & white Meet Up sign in a car window when you arrive.

• Important to know
Restroom and water facilities are available at Main Street Station.
Organizer's contact number is 804-398-0647
• Today's River Level