Historic Rosedale is pleased to present We Built This; Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina, a traveling exhibit from Preservation North Carolina. We Built This is part of an educational program about the history and legacy of Black builders and craftspeople in North Carolina. This traveling exhibit highlights the stories of those who constructed and designed many of North Carolina’s most treasured historic sites. Spanning more than three centuries, We Built This provides more than two dozen personal profiles and historical context on crucial topics, including slavery and Reconstruction; the founding of HBCUs and Black churches; Jim Crow and segregation; and the rise of Black politicians and professionals.

“Bringing high quality, relevant exhibits, such as We Built This, to the community is an important aspect of our mission and responsibility,” commented Tom Spada, President, Board of Directors, the Historic Rosedale Foundation. Mr. Spada continued, “Through sharing our multi-facet history with the community and visitors to our site, we hope to create a sense of belonging and unity.” The African American Legacy at Historic Rosedale project was created to further expand and promote the truthful, compassionate, and equitable presentation of the African Americans at Historic Rosedale. Because of the sensitive nature of many of these truths, the African American Legacy Committee has collaborated with a broad and diverse group of individuals, starting with the descendants of those enslaved who lived and worked on the site.

The We Built This exhibit will run from April 1, 2022 through June 11, 2022, in the circa 1815 house at the Historic Rosedale site, located at 3427 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, and will be open Wednesday through Saturday. Full details on ticket availability and pricing, along with exact hours of operation are available at https://historicrosedale.org/event/we-built-this/

Historic Rosedale

It is the mission of Historic Rosedale to interpret three important themes; the ancestral families who owned the house and surrounding property, the enslaved and freed African Americans who worked and lived on the land through many generations, and the unique architectural features, decorative arts, and natural landscapes that are showcased in the 1815 historic house and its nine acres of gardens and grounds. Historic Rosedale is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors along with support from The Arts and Science Council.

Preservation North Carolina

Founded in 1939, Preservation North Carolina is North Carolina’s only private nonprofit statewide historic preservation organization. Its mission is to protect and promote buildings, landscapes, and sites important to the diverse heritage of North Carolina. It enjoys a national reputation, having been cited by the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a model organization of its kind.

Please contact Cher Lambeth, Education Curator at Historic Rosedale, for more information. 704-335- 0325, or roseedu@historicrosedale.org.