The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington

06/14/2026

Honoring the Enslaved at Abingdon (Plantation) House

The Abingdon plantation, also known as the Alexander-Custis Plantation, was an 18th- and 19th-century estate owned by prominent families including the Alexanders, Custises, Stuarts, and Hunters, and was worked by slaves and domesticated animals. The site of the plantation is currently located in Arlington County, Virginia, within the grounds of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

When John Parke Custis acquired Abingdon from Robert Alexander, he also purchased a 1,100-acre tract of land from Gerrard Alexander. This tract, separate from Abingdon, remained in the Custis family, and G.W.P. Custis later built Arlington House on the land he developed.

In the 60 years leading up to the Civil War, at least 200 enslaved African Americans lived and labored on the estate, with approximately 63 individuals residing there at any given time.

The absence of traditional surnames among enslaved people was a deliberate result of the chattel slavery system, which treated human beings as property rather than citizens. By stripping enslaved individuals of family lineage and property ownership identifiers, the system reinforced their status as property and eroded family structures.

A B I N G D O N H O U S E S L A V E S

A limited number of records document the names of enslaved individuals held at Abingdon, including:

Dick, Bess, Robin, Stice, Nell, Nan, David, Will, Milley, Rose, Solomon, James, Peg (daughter of Moll), Peg (daughter of Bess), F***y, Cook Nan, Cook Beck, Rose, Moll, Amey, Dinah, Ebe, Doll, Old F***y, Nan, Beck, Sall, Sarah, Pat, Naney, Nelly, Amey, Nan, Letts,

Tom Millar, Great Joe, Great Harry, Little Tarry, George, Phill, John Tower, Julius, Charles, Will Flood, Will Twine, Lane, Joe, Lewis, Peter Hardyman, Daniel, John, Terry, George, David, Tom, Mingo,

Beck, Nan, Lydia, Moll, Charlotte, Jenny, Mima, Mima, Patt, Beck, Ally,

Billy, Joshua, Sithey, Ceasar, Morris, Anthony, Jack, Will, Peter, John, David, Joe, Billy, Nelson, James, Sampson, Stephen, Ned, Joe, Bob, Susan, Charlotte, "the youngest daughter of Celia", Joseph, Sandy Watts, Peter, Tobey, Henry, Jackson, Robinson, Charles, Lewis, Martha, Michael, Cecelia, Sandy, Emily, Mary, Hannah, Dinah, Rebeka, Daniel, James, Bushrod, Philip.

In 1998, interpretive panels were installed at the Abingdon plantation site, primarily focusing on the lives of the plantation owners. However, for over a century before the Civil War, enslaved African Americans comprised the majority of the population working at the site.

Through archaeological research and historical investigation, the lives and contributions of these men, women, and children are being recognized and commemorated.

Enslaved individuals at Abingdon performed skilled tasks such as backbreaking labor in the fields, animal care, machinery maintenance, and groundskeeping. Within the main house, duties included childcare, laundry, sewing, cleaning, and food preparation. Their labor facilitated the lives of the plantation owners and contributed to their wealth and power.

Few records documenting the lives of enslaved individuals at Abingdon were created, and even fewer have survived. Many records merely list numbers of enslaved people. Behind each of these numbers lies a life worthy of rediscovery and remembrance.

Dr. Scott Edwin Taylor

****Archival research provided by Dr. Thomas Foster, Howard University

06/11/2026

80th Anniversary !

Transit Segregation: Morgan v. Virginia (1946).

On June 3, 1946, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that significantly impacted the enforcement of Jim Crow laws on public transportation, deciding with a 7–1 majority.

In July 1944, Irene Morgan, a 27-year-old defense worker, boarded a Greyhound bus in Gloucester County, Virginia, headed to Baltimore, Maryland. Following the driver's instruction to give up her seat to a white couple, Morgan refused and was subsequently arrested, jailed, and fined in Middlesex County for violating Virginia's 1930 transit segregation statute.

The NAACP's legal team, consisting of Thurgood Marshall and William H. Hastie, defended Morgan by strategically focusing on the Interstate Commerce Clause rather than the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, arguing that state-enforced segregation on interstate travel imposed an unconstitutional burden.

The Supreme Court concurred, determining that uniform seating rules were necessary for interstate travel. Although Virginia and parts of the Deep South disregarded the ruling, prompting the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to initiate the Journey of Reconciliation in 1947 to assess compliance, the Morgan case paved the way for the Freedom Rides of the 1960s.

06/05/2026

We had a Ball!!

05/25/2026

05/12/2026

Yesterday we were visited by Jackie Defuso, news correspondent for Hearst Television which supplies news for stations across the country .
Hearst is working on a series marking America's 250th anniversary, including a story tracing the history of voting rights and where we are today.
We were honored to host them as they interviewed one of our local civil rights heroes, Mrs. Portia A. Haskins.

Portia Haskins is a key figure in the civil rights history of Arlington, Virginia, specifically regarding the fight to eliminate the poll tax. A native of the historic Halls Hill neighborhood (now High View Park), she played a pivotal role in challenging the discriminatory voting laws that persisted in Virginia well into the 1960s.

The Poll Tax in Virginia:
Starting with the 1902 State Constitution, Virginia required citizens to pay a poll tax—typically $1.50 per year for the three preceding years—to be eligible to vote. This measure was explicitly designed to disenfranchise Black voters and poor white citizens. While the 24th Amendment abolished the poll tax for federal elections in 1964, Virginia attempted to maintain a "dual registration system," still requiring the tax for state and local elections.

Haskins’ Legal Challenge:
In 1965, at the age of 23, Portia Haskins attempted to vote in Arlington. Despite having paid her poll taxes and registered for federal elections, she was told she had to re-register to participate in local elections.
Working with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), she filed a lawsuit against the Virginia Board of Elections and the Arlington County general registrar. Her case, Portia A. Haskins v. Levin Nock Davis et al., argued that the dual registration system violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Legacy and Impact:
Haskins’ efforts were instrumental in the broader legal battle against voter suppression:
• Court Victory: On April 1, 1966, a Federal District Court ruled in her favor, striking down the dual registration requirement.
• Supreme Court Connection: Her struggle was part of the legal momentum that led to the landmark 1966 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, which finally declared poll taxes unconstitutional in all state and local elections.
• Community Leadership: Beyond her legal activism, she has been a long-time member of Mt. Salvation Baptist Church and recently published a book on its history.
Her story is a cornerstone of Arlington's civil rights narrative and was recently highlighted in the 2025 exhibition "From Barriers to Ballots," commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.
(Dr. Scott Taylor)

05/09/2026

Be there !

Event Details
Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel
900 S. Orme Street
Arlington, VA 22204
Availability is limited, and early reservations are strongly
encouraged.
Tickets, Sponsorships, and Donations:
bit.ly/4dm6pkQ
Media & Event Inform

05/07/2026

MISS ALLEN’S STORE
One Of Halls Hill’s Longest Running Businesses

Miss Allen’s Store, located at 1821 North Columbus Street in the Halls Hill neighborhood, was a cornerstone of the community for much of the 20th century. It is remembered as the longest continuously operating business in Halls Hill, serving as a vital resource during the era of segregation when the neighborhood was largely self-reliant.
Origins and Early History
The business was originally opened in the early 1900s by a married couple, Washington ("Wash") and Rose Allen. Initially known as Allen’s Store, it was reportedly the first home-based general store in the Halls Hill/Highview Park area. The couple operated it out of their concrete-block residence, which also included a garage and a barn on the property.
After Washington Allen passed away, Rose Allen continued to run the business. It was during this period that the name evolved into "Miss Allen’s Store," reflecting the community’s respect and affection for her.
Community Significance
For generations of Halls Hill residents, the store was more than just a place to buy groceries; it was a safe social hub.
• A Neighborhood Social Spot: Children would gather there to spend pennies on candy, beef jerky, or potato chips.
• The "Bottom" Location: Situated near the area of the neighborhood known as "The Bottom," it was a regular stop for families running errands or residents looking for freshly sliced lunch meats like bologna, liverwurst, and hog's head cheese.
• Iconic Features: Longtime patrons often recall the large, round, ice-filled coolers where you had to "dig down" to find a cold soda, as well as the jars of pickled pigs' feet and pickles on the counter.
Legacy and Modern Status
Rose Allen was an active figure in local real estate as well, subdividing and selling portions of her land in the late 1960s as the neighborhood began to change.
While the store is no longer standing—the original historic structure was demolished around 2001 to make way for a new residence—its legacy is preserved through local historical initiatives. It is featured in the "Hidden Gems" walking tour of the Halls Hill/Highview Park community and remains a frequent subject of oral histories and neighborhood memoirs, symbolizing the autonomy and resilience of Arlington’s historic African American communities.
(Dr. Scott Edwin Taylor)