On January 25, 1869, Frederick Douglass visited Gettysburg, where the formerly enslaved, self-emancipated activist, author, and lecturer delivered a speech in which he reflected upon the words spoken and deeds done on battlefields across the country during the “Abolition War” and the Reconstruction that followed. Through written word and commanding oratory, he brought meaning to the bloodletting of fallen United States soldiers and the martyred Abraham Lincoln, and placed the racial and political results of the war—constructive as well as destructive—within the context of world history.

Join Codie Eash, Director of Education and Museum Operations at Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center, as he explores the motivations for Douglass’s address, how it was received by those who heard it, and what it means in our collective memory today.

This FREE, outdoor program will take place at the Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) Amphitheater on West Confederate Avenue, near Pitzer Woods, Auto Tour Stop 6.

This program is part of GNMP’s Juneteenth commemoration. For more on additional Campfire Programs and other events at GNMP, visit the Things To Do page.