Samuel Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Museum

08/18/2026

After a $700,000 renovation, the Paul Laurence Dunbar House reopens its doors. Free admission. This restoration was recognized with a PDI Excellence in Preservation award. https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/paul-laurence-dunbar-house/

08/15/2026

Testing out formats! Maybe too little to read. 🤦‍♀️
But you can enlarge it! 🙂
Seashore Striders Running
Races2Run
Samuel Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Museum
Believe In Tomorrow
TEAM 360

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

Make sure to register for the 2026 Shoebox Lunch Festival 5K Run/Walk!

Start festival day with us on the move! Join the Samuel D. Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Memorial Museum for our 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, August 22, then stick around for the 3rd Annual Shoebox Lunch Festival — a day filled with food, music, history, culture, and community.

Whether you run it, walk it, or bring the whole crew, we’d love to have you with us! There’s no fee to participate, and everyone is welcome. Children, elders, families, seasoned runners, and casual walkers — come out, get moving, and enjoy the morning with your community.

👟 5K Run/Walk: 8:00–10:00 AM
🎉 Shoebox Lunch Festival: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 5 Boundary Ave, Onancock, VA 23417

Register today and come be part of a full day celebrating community, heritage, and the legacy of the Samuel D. Outlaw Blacksmith Shop.

➡️ REGISTER NOW: https://www.outlawblacksmithshop.org/5k

08/14/2026

New race, and it’s free! Run on the Eastern Shore of Virginia! It’s the 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟱𝗞 at the Samuel Outlaw Blacksmith Shop Museum in 𝗢𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗰𝗸. ⭐️ Race date: Saturday, Aug. 22 ⭐️

The 5k will kick off the grand reopening of the historic blacksmith shop and a day of activities.
Samuel D. Outlaw, a master blacksmith and wheelwright, opened his shop in 1927. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and has been restored. After the 5k, there will be live music, blacksmith demonstrations, traditional African dance and other activities.

You can also order a Shoebox Lunch. From the website: “During the Jim Crow era, many Black travelers could not safely access restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations. Families often packed meals in shoeboxes or similar containers before setting out on the road, ensuring they would have food when dining options were unavailable or unsafe. The shoebox lunch became a symbol of resilience, self-reliance, and determination in the face of segregation.”

Sign up here: https://www.outlawblacksmithshop.org/
(FYI: If you have trouble with the form not accepting your phone number, there’s a drop down to select United States.)

I’m signed up!

08/13/2026

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

Join us for the 3rd Annual Shoebox Lunch Festival!

This year brings together history, culture, food, music, and community for a day celebrating African American heritage on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. This year begins with our inaugural 5K Run/Walk, followed by live music from Willie C. & the Gang, traditional African dance by the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance, and a live blacksmithing demonstration led by Dale Morse, Blacksmithing Instructor with the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing.

A Taste of Tradition

At the heart of the festival is the story of the shoebox lunch. During the Jim Crow era, many Black travelers could not safely access restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations. Families often packed meals in shoeboxes or similar containers before setting out on the road, ensuring they would have food when dining options were unavailable or unsafe. The shoebox lunch became a symbol of resilience, self-reliance, and determination in the face of segregation. This year’s meal celebrates the familiar flavors and food traditions that sustained Black families at home and on the road. Guests will enjoy a traditional Southern meal featuring fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and pound cake.

Sebastian Bowers, Sous Chef at the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club, will join us for a special culinary appearance, alongside members of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, an organization with a meaningful connection to Samuel D. Outlaw himself.

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy cultural exhibits, local speakers, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to learn more about Samuel D. Outlaw, the historic Blacksmith Shop, and the story behind the shoebox lunches Black families carried while traveling during the Jim Crow era.

Come for the history. Stay for the music, food, and fellowship. Leave with a deeper connection to the stories that shaped our community.

Festival admission is free and open to everyone. Shoebox Lunch meals are available for purchase here: https://www.outlawblacksmithshop.org/events

04/07/2026

Join us for Onancock Sails Forward - June 12-14, 2026
https://www.sail250onancock.com/