'Pioneers in Preservation' to host free Trans-Atlantic slave trade exhibits in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — A chance to learn about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade is coming to the Hostess City in November.

The Davenport House Museum, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, the Andrew Low House Museum, and the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) are partnering up to host the “Pioneers in Preservation Series".

The series will be a weekend of learning about the legacy of the slave trade in Coastal Georgia.

All events will be free because they are funded by the ACE Grant community program and Georgia Humanities.

“As much as they feel as like it’s centering on the Trans-Atlantic slavery exhibit, it’s really centering on the foundational community and culture of Savannah, which is our culture, Gullah Geechee culture,” said Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee nation

• The first event of the series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, located at 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd with a performance from Queen Quet highlighting Gullah Geechee roots.

• The second event of the series is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at the historic Second African Church located at 123 Houston St. and will feature a lecture called “Slavery at Sea: Terror, Sex, and Sickness in the Middle Passage.” by Dr. Sowande Mustakeem, associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

• The third event is Saturday, Nov. 13 with a lecture and tasting event, “Tasting Traditions!” at the Andrew Low House Museum, located at 329 Abercorn St. This event will have two tastings, the first beginning at 1:30 p.m. and the next at 3:30 p.m. The museum will host Vaughnette Goode-Walker, who will lecture on African American food traditions. Local chef, Sallie Ann Robinson, will give an informal talk and perform a cooking demonstration, preparing dishes influenced by African American traditions and present-day inspirations.

• The series wraps up in the afternoon on Sunday, Nov. 14, at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. The museum will host a workshop from 1:00 – 3:30 covering the construction of a mbira, a west African thumb piano, with a detachable cigar box resonator. This workshop is limited to 20 participants and is restricted to ages eight and older. Guests will participate in the activity in the museum's Assembly Room in the North Garden, where COVID-19 safety precautions will be observed.