Huguenot Street to Offer “Go Back and Get It”

NEW PALTZ – In celebration of Black History Month, Historic Huguenot Street will offer “‘Go Back and Get It’: A Two-Part Historic House Tour Examining Black Impacts and Experiences on Huguenot Street.” These tours take place on Saturdays in February from 2:00 to 3:00 PM (eastern time).

Sankofa, which translates to “go back and get it,” is a concept taken from the Akan people of Ghana. It emphasizes the importance of learning from the past, even in instances where history has been erased or forgotten. Despite the impacts of countless enslaved and free Black residents over centuries of New Paltz’s history, historical writing and programming in the 20th century all too often pushed them to the periphery or avoided their mention entirely. In this program, the concept of Sankofa will be used to guide discussions around reconstructing this previously erased history.

During each tour, HHS Tours & Interpretation Manager, Eddie Moran, will lead guests through one of the site’s historic homes as Black history on Huguenot Street is explored.
Part 1, offered February 17th, will examine the experiences of enslaved Africans in early New Paltz and their impact in establishing the community, via a tour of the historic Abraham Hasbrouck House.

Part 2, offered February 10th and February 24th, will explore emancipation in New York and the free Black community which emerged in New Paltz, via a tour of the historic Deyo House.

There are cost for these tours, there’s general admission and discounted admission. Discounted admission applies to HHS members, seniors, students, active military members and their families, and veterans.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.huguenotstreet.org/calendar-of-events/2024/2/3/go-back-and-get-it

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

About Historic Huguenot Street
A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to preserving a pre-Revolutionary Hudson Valley settlement and engaging diverse audiences in the exploration of America’s multicultural past, in order to understand the historical forces that have shaped America. As an educational institution founded by the town’s French-speaking Protestant descendants and chartered by the University of the State of New York Department of Education, HHS explores the lives of the early European colonists, honors the region’s Indigenous people, and acknowledges the enslaved and disenfranchised peoples who built this place. Today, HHS is recognized as an innovative museum and community gathering place, providing visitors with an inclusive presentation of our shared past.

For more information visit www.huguenotstreet.org.