In May 1776, George Mason travelled to Williamsburg to serve as a Delegate to the Fifth Virginia Convention. Over the next several weeks, Mason wrote Virginia’s first Constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights, a document that begins by stating in Article 1:
“That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”
Tomorrow, June 12
th
, represents the 244
th
anniversary of the ratification of Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights. As we approach this anniversary, Gunston Hall recognizes that significant work remains for our country to fulfill the promise of life, liberty, happiness, and safety for everyone. Now is the time to reconcile and resolve the differences that, tragically, continue to divide our neighborhoods, communities, and our nation, and to finally fulfill this promise.
As such, we stand against racism, inequality, prejudice, discrimination, brutality, and violence, and we stand in solidarity with those advocating for and pursuing the freedoms, rights, liberties, and opportunities to which all are equally and fully entitled.
We have work to do
. Mason’s intellect and ideas, essential for his framing of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and his ability to serve as a Delegate at the Fifth Virginia Convention were in large part the result of his wealth. This wealth was made possible by owning over 100 enslaved African Americans. We recognize the inherent contradictions between Mason’s words, his choices, and his actions. We understand the challenge of advocating for equality and the rights expressed by Mason while also representing a place that was the site of so much inequality, pain, and suffering for so many people for so long. We acknowledge this pain, and we acknowledge the continuing suffering experienced by so many of our fellow citizens today.
We are listening
. Education and learning are at the center of all we do. To do our part to address the ongoing conflict, we must tell the complete story of Gunston Hall, give voices to those enslaved by Mason, and use history to make a better future. It is imperative that we listen and learn. We also recognize our need to actively seek the insight and perspective of new and diverse audiences.
We are changing
. Real change at Gunston Hall must include a review of our operations, our business practices, and our institutional priorities. Only by looking inward will the changes we aspire to make as an organization be lasting, impactful, and successful. We are also expanding ways to tell the full story of Gunston Hall:
- Last year, we opened the exhibition, Revolutionary Rights, which explores Mason’s ideas, choices, and actions with an emphasis on rights, who had and has access to these rights, and the legacy of enslavement.
- This year, through a significant grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, we will continue to work on the reinterpretation of the kitchen yard for the purpose of telling a more inclusive story about the individuals who occupied those spaces.
- This summer, we will open our restored Riverside Garden featuring educational experiences that will explore the hierarchy of privilege, access, work, and recreation that existed within the formally designed landscapes of 18th-century plantations such as Gunston Hall.
- We have prioritized the archaeological examination and further investigation of the recently discovered location of enslaved homes on the site. We are committed to better understanding these sites and interpreting this space as an enslaved community.
We write this to share with you and also to demonstrate what we are currently doing and what we hope to do in the coming months and years. This will not be a short trip. Instead, it is a long journey of awareness, learning, and change. Our commitment to listen, learn, and teach is a renewed promise to you, that we will continue to evolve and transform as an educational institution committed to advancing the cause of freedom and rights for all.