Hampton VA250 Committee

Hampton VA250 Committee February 22, 2024 Meeting Notes Committee Attendees: City Councilman Steve Brown, Mr. John Golden, Ms. Sam Snead, Mr. Asa Jenrette, Mr. Glenn Oder, Ms. Martha Tennille, Ms. Kathy Dermanis, Mr. Ryan Taylor-Fontes, Mr. Jay Joseph, Dr. Jennifer Oliver, and Ms. Demetria Sweat. Additional Partner Guests: Phyllis Terrell, Fort Monroe Authority Staff Attendees: HamptonCVB - Mary Fugere, Yuri Milligan, Mahogany Waldon, and Isabella West; Hampton History Museum - Luci Cochran, Beth Austin; Diversity Equity & Inclusion – Gab Diaz; Phoebus Partnership – Dominique DuBose. Hampton City Councilman Steve Brown welcomed attendees and thanked them for their commitment to helping to shape Hampton’s commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He encouraged everyone to freely share ideas. Introductions by Hampton VA250 Members, Partners and City Staff. Each person was asked to share their background and a special skill. Mary Fugere shared that committee meetings would be held monthly, but asked that everyone complete a questionnaire to determine the best day of the month and time. At each meeting, index cards will be provided to allow everyone to capture commemoration ideas when they come to mind. An overview of VA250 was provided. VA250 references the collective commemorations throughout Virginia. Each county/city/town, is provided with a dedicated logo (as shown at top of page) and a landing page on the VA250 web site. The page will allow us to share opportunities to explore history, festivals, guest speakers, and reenactments beginning now through 2026. The Hampton CVB media team will load content and keep Hampton’s presence on the state web site up to date. A Common Cause to All Conference was held in Williamsburg by VA250 on March 11, 2023. The conference was attended by people from across the country, but primarily from the states derived from the original 13 colonies. Some key points of discussion during the conference included themes based on the following thematic pillars: • Unfinished Revolutions • Power of Place – Location, Land – Peoples’ connection to places  • We The People • The American Experiment • Toward a More Perfect Experiment • Civic Engagement • Civic Action • Doing History – Processes – experiences, transparency, uncertainty The 2024 A Common Cause for All Conference was scheduled March 18-20, 2024 in Williamsburg. There was a specific dedicated session for Local Committees on Wednesday, March 20 at 11 am. Hampton VA250 appointments were announced by Hampton City Council on January 24 during the legislative meeting. It will be a working committee that identifies ways that Hampton can celebrate/commemorate July 4, 2026 during the coming two years. The role of the committee is not just to plan a July 4 celebration, but to identify a variety of ways to commemorate, including such things as historical reenactments, hotel/attraction packages, travelling exhibits, festivals, guest speaker series, among others. While budget is not finalized, the committee is encouraged to think broadly so that we reach all Hampton residents in meaningful ways. Beth Austin reviewed Hampton’s Revolutionary War and Battle of Hampton history. Other aspects of Hampton Revolutionary War History to consider include: • Indian/Native Event – est. 1776 Lord Dunmore tenure spent making war or treaties with Native Americans in western Virginia. Researched and addressed treaties, “Dunmore’s War.” • Nansemond and Pamunkey – Britain had limited westward expansion to limit costs of the war. • Revolution 1775 – Battle of Hampton Reenactment- mid-18th century character vessels such as Sultana, Providence, HMS Otter. Event to be held in October 26- 27 2025. • The American Revolution narrative has left Hampton out. Lord Dunmore fled Williamsburg on ship in Chesapeake Bay. Hampton was front-line to the resistance of Dunmore; the Hampton watermen and tradesmen bore the brunt of the attack. Virginia was the turning point in resistance to rebellion. • Arc of Freedom – Enslaved people seeking freedom. Dunmore drafted proclamation offering an opportunity if they supported the British. Harbor Pilot Joseph Harris took refuge with two British ships. Locals knew and demanded return. Estimated 200 were with the British in an effort to have freedom. • George Wythe – signer Declaration of Independence, Mentor and professor to Thomas Jefferson, Hampton Son. • Fort George – ruins have been found at Fort Monroe – Cornwallis arrived at Fort George “I came thither to Point Comfort”. Fort George $75,0000 grant. Front wall found where the lighthouse is located. Fort George may be the first masonry fortress built in America.  • One of three Revolutionary Medicine French Troops camped in Hampton during Yorktown – French hospital Other Interpretation possibilities include: • Council Presentation with Bill Whittaker’s presentation – National Monument coupled with sharing of experiences that people have had. • Memorial Plaza at Fort Monroe 2026 monument sculpture • America’s Historic Diamond - Glenn has had conversations with Cliff Fleet and Christy Coleman. Connect with Visit Williamsburg as Williamsburg marketing partner. Four-pronged travel-tour package involving research, scholars, tourism. A group tour itinerary and a leisure visitor product with ticketing through Bandwango. • Different itinerary variations could reflect different themes. Must include not just Fort Monroe, but Downtown Hampton including Hampton History Museum, Hampton Queen harbor tour boat. • Offering an excursion to cruise passengers docking in Norfolk. • Propose play by Gary Spell • Give Me Liberty Pop- Up/Travelling Exhibit – Fall 2023 • VA250 Mobile display – reserve early for Battle of Hampton and for 2026 dates • Main Hampton History Museum galleries to be updated with Revolutionary War history by July 2025 • Videos introducing a broader history – Hampton History Museum has production of these underway • Episodic Story of Revolution – Six character interpreters sharing different perspectives. • Recognizable voice actor - Why is Fort Monroe important? • Film shown in FMVEC theater • NPS – three tours a day presently • Found Family in England with records of Cornwallis • Fort George artifacts at Fort Lee? What artifacts may be available to borrow? • 18th century journalism – Virginia Gazette in 1775 – Letters published in newspaper. Perhaps work with Scripps Howard School of Journalism or CNU writing students. SAIL250 Virginia Affiliate Events – Hampton will be an Affiliate Harbor for SAIL250 Virginia, including viewing site for the Parade of Sail on June 19, 2026 and Affiliate Event site featuring Blackbeard Pirate Festival on June 12-14, 2026. International and Character vessels participating in SAIL250 will be identified to dock in Hampton on the downtown waterfront and potentially at Fort Monroe. Other dock sites to be determined. Grants - Hampton CVB has received aVA250 grant to promote Hampton historical smartphone series (which includes Fort Monroe, Downtown, Phoebus, Hampton University, Hampton Historic Neighborhoods, and 400Years Forward, which emphasizes Hampton Black history. Around the Table – While this was the introductory meeting to familiarized everyone with the work ahead, there was some uncertainty about what is to be done. It was recommended that an interactive charette take place during the next meeting to determine priorities, opportunities, fun ways to involve residents and visitors and determine how we want to commemorate.