Taylor-Grady House National Historic Landmark, Inc.

Taylor-Grady House National Historic Landmark, Inc. Where Connected Community Lives. Four pillars of living heritage practice: Arts, Culture, Foodways, Commune.

Transforming our history into shared experiences that foster belonging.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all s...
06/19/2026

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor." — General Orders, Number 3 | Headquarters District of Texas, Galveston, June 19, 1865

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control.

Some of those in power deliberately withheld the information of the emancipation in order to keep the economic rewards of slave labor in place for slaveholders.

Freedom finally came two years later, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the 250,000+ enslaved Black folks in the state were free by executive decree.

This day came to be known as Juneteenth, by the newly freed people in Texas.

As we celebrate this momentous holiday, we recognize there are still echoes of this injustice in our current system and the work of racial justice has not ended. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻

05/16/2026

What was your guess for last week's ? Dan Roberts, Executive Director of the Taylor-Grady House shares the answer!

This biscuit roller at the Taylor-Grady House was used to uniformly flatten dough for crackers (also called beaten biscuits) in the 19th century. These simple crackers were made of flour, water, and sometimes salt.

Did you know? Crackers called "sea biscuits" or "hard tack" were commonly provided as rations for long sea voyages and during war time. The dry, dense biscuit could last for months, even years, when stored in a dry space. To eat it, one would have to wet the biscuit in water, coffee, or tea. Otherwise, it was too hard to actually eat!

Stay tuned for another item from the Taylor-Grady House next Wednesday!

05/16/2026

This week's comes from the c. 1844 Taylor-Grady House. You would use this item over the fire to make a specific type of food that is commonly eaten to this day. Do you know what it is? Make your guesses in the comments! Creative "wrong" answers are always welcome, too! We'll reveal the answer next Wednesday.

Visit the Taylor-Grady House during their weekly Porch Time on Wednesdays from 11 AM - 3 PM. All are welcome and it's a great place for remote work, games, conversation, or simply enjoying a beautiful day in Athens.

We're wishing a joyful and rejuvenating Mother's Day weekend to all the mothers, mother figures, step moms, angel moms, ...
05/08/2026

We're wishing a joyful and rejuvenating Mother's Day weekend to all the mothers, mother figures, step moms, angel moms, and moms-to-be in our lives.

Your steadfast examples of compassion, strength, perseverance, and leadership are beacons that light our way. May we continue to uplift and empower mothers in all spaces.

We hope to see you at Taylor-Grady House soon.

Happy Mother’s Day. 🖤

05/01/2026

This week's comes from the Taylor-Grady House! This tool was used to make a specific type of food to ensure uniformity. Do you know what it was used to make? Comment your guesses below! "Wrong" answers are always welcome, too. ;)

Are you active in Athens? Come host a session of Porch Time at Taylor-Grady House! 🪑Every Wednesday from 11am-3pm, we of...
04/30/2026

Are you active in Athens? Come host a session of Porch Time at Taylor-Grady House! 🪑

Every Wednesday from 11am-3pm, we offer an open-door community gathering. No registration, no fee. Just iced tea, our wonderful neighbors, and the quiet possibility of connection.

If you want to engage with the community and spread the word about what you’re working on, we welcome you to host Porch Time.

◾ New businesses, small businesses, nonprofits, bands, book clubs—commune with us!

Folks gather to chat, knit, or play mahjong. Bring your lunch and grab a seat. Make new friends, share space, and get Athens locals connected to your work.

Express your interest by contacting us at [email protected]. Please include some details about your business/organization/club and a few options for Wednesdays you’d be available.

See you on the porch. 🖤

We’ve come to the difficult decision to postpone our Sankofa: Tracing Lineage art exhibit, panel, and workshop offerings...
04/23/2026

We’ve come to the difficult decision to postpone our Sankofa: Tracing Lineage art exhibit, panel, and workshop offerings that were intended to take place April 24-May 10.

Due to funding challenges, we’re not able to bring this program to our community in the way it deserves at this time. As with many nonprofit organizations, we are feeling the tight squeeze at the moment and unfortunately it has affected our ability to provide this programming.

We will persist!

We are committed to bringing this exhibit and vital discussion of cultural displacement and kinship recovery to life as soon as we are able. We’re working hard to figure out just when we’ll be able to do that.

For now, please join us for Porch Time every Wednesday from 11am-3pm for iced tea and conversation, and keep an eye out for other programming we will be offering to our Athens community.

In solidarity,

— Taylor-Grady House

📣 We’re seeking Exhibition Host volunteers for our Sankofa: Tracing Lineage art gallery!On display will be a rare collec...
04/14/2026

📣 We’re seeking Exhibition Host volunteers for our Sankofa: Tracing Lineage art gallery!

On display will be a rare collection of West African art and the stories of lineage and cultural survival it carries.

You don’t need to be an art expert to be an Exhibition Host, you just need to be present, curious, and genuinely glad to welcome our Athens community into the space.

You’ll answer questions, encourage engagement, and share basic knowledge about the exhibition when asked. (Orientation materials are provided before your first shift—no prior experience needed).

Physical requirements include the ability to stand/walk for up to 3 hours, being comfortable greeting and conversing with members of the public, and being able to navigate stairs and move between gallery spaces.

This opportunity is a great fit if you:

🖤 Love heritage, art, history, or community storytelling
🖤 Enjoy meeting people and making them feel welcome
🖤 Want to be part of a program that is doing something genuinely meaningful in Athens

Dates needed: Multiple days April 26th-May 10th, 1-4pm ET at the Taylor-Grady House.

Does this spark your interest? Please let us know at [email protected]

A 25-year-old secret, finally unveiled. You’re invited for exclusive preview access to our Sankofa exhibition of West Af...
04/09/2026

A 25-year-old secret, finally unveiled. You’re invited for exclusive preview access to our Sankofa exhibition of West African art, remarkable storytelling, and connected community.

When Athens resident Paul Deaton placed a bid on a climate-controlled storage unit nearly two years ago, he had no idea what was inside. What he found was a carefully preserved trove of West African art — nearly 500 pieces of sculpture, masks, paintings, and textiles — sealed away for almost 25 years. The collection traces back to Nigeria's Oshogbo School, an art movement born in the 1960s that helped define modern African expression.

That discovery is the heart of Sankofa: Tracing Lineage.

Your ticket to our VIP Opening Reception will include:
• Exclusive preview access to the Sankofa exhibition
• Remarks from the Executive Director and Program Experts
• Food and beverages
• First opportunity to purchase works from the collection

This is a fundraising event benefiting Taylor-Grady House National Historic Landmark, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your generosity and commitment to community are what keep programs like Sankofa: Tracing Lineage alive — connecting Athens to its heritage, its stories, and the people who carry them forward.

Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/SankofaOpeningReception

What does a painting know that a deed record doesn't?Come home, and discover a family you may never have known existed.A...
04/07/2026

What does a painting know that a deed record doesn't?

Come home, and discover a family you may never have known existed.

Alongside our exhibit of West African art, on April 25th we will be hosting a genealogy workshop + public panel discussion, exploring migration, loss, and kinship recovery — preserving what colonial record-keeping was designed to erase.

You don't need to be a researcher. You just need to show up. We'll show you how to find your family's story together, as a community.

The panel discussion is free + open to the public, RSVPs are recommended: https://bit.ly/SankofaPanel

The workshop is an intentional working session and available with limited capacity. Reserve your seat here: https://bit.ly/SankofaWorkshop

Welcome Home.

Address

634 Prince Avenue
Athens, GA
30601

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

(706) 549-8688

Website

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