Seizing Freedom: The Black Community in West Cambridge *Offsite* *NEW*

Although there are many in Cambridge who have never heard of Lewisville, this area of West Cambridge has been a vibrant and enduring part of the city’s history for over two centuries. The neighborhood, roughly bounded by Concord Avenue, Garden Street, and Shepard Street, was a community made up largely of Black residents, a mix of free-born individuals and those who had been born into slavery and either received their freedom or self-emancipated during the Revolutionary War. This tour will explore the rich history of this area, highlighting the perseverance of the city’s Black community and its efforts to carve out a space of equality and resource sharing in the post-Revolutionary era and beyond.

Instructor: History Cambridge