Enslaved George Towne (1645-2023): A Walking Meditation

Enslaved George Towne (1645-2023): A Walking Meditation
In-Person Walk with Ed Ingebretsen 
Saturday, June 17
10:00 – 11:30 AM

Meeting Point: Outside of the former Dean & DeLuca (Potomac Street side) at 3276 M Street NW. The walk will conclude near the entrance to Georgetown University.

Transportation: Transportation will not be provided. Please budget plenty of time for metro/traffic/parking delays.

Juneteenth is a Federally declared holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. In commemoration of Juneteenth, Ed Ingebretsen will present:

Enslaved: George Towne (1645-2023)

Established as a port city for the colony of Maryland, Georgetown was a hub not only for the tobacco trade, but also the slave trade. Taverns were the site of slave auctions and housed enslaved workers in basement pens.

Join us for a 90-minute walk through Georgetown, beginning at the 1796 site of the Old Georgetown market (Dean & Deluca - 3276 M Street NW) and exploring the history and commerce -- including enslavement practices -- of the Port of George Towne. We walk north on Wisconsin Avenue to Volta place and west to the front gates of Georgetown University. This archeology of memory considers selected sites, in order to understand how a history of enslavement -- hidden, submerged, erased -- persists to this day in Georgetown. One example: Georgetown's Healy Hall tower is iconic Georgetown tourism; it is also named after Patrick Healy, a (legally) black man who was known as Georgetown's "second founder."

Registration is limited to the first 40 people that sign up by noon on Friday, June 16th. There is no charge for this event. In the event of questionable weather, please check your email for an update from Ed Ingebretsen. To contact Ed with any questions, please email [email protected].

Edward Ingebretsen holds advanced degrees in theology, philosophy and education, and a PhD from Duke University in American literature and culture. He has lived in DC since he began teaching at Georgetown University in 1986 where he is currently Professor Emeritus.