Lighting the Trail: New Stories from MV’s African American Heritage Trail
Lighting the Trail: New Stories from MV’s African American Heritage Trail
Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites you to join historian and Martha’s Vineyard African American Heritage Trail co-founder Elaine Cawley Weintraub for a celebration of the fourth edition of Lighting the Trail.
The story of the African American Heritage Trail began with a simple question from a young boy: “Where were all the Black people then?” That question set in motion a remarkable journey of research, discovery, community, and memory.
Now spanning 42 sites across all six Island towns, the Trail shares stories that might otherwise have been lost and continues to grow as new people, places, and histories are brought to light. In this talk, Elaine will introduce some of the Trail’s newest additions, sharing the families, individuals, and places that have recently become part of this evolving record of Martha’s Vineyard.
Drawing on the triumphs and challenges of building the Trail, Elaine will reflect on what it means to uncover, preserve, and celebrate a more inclusive Island history.
Come early for a pre-talk mingle at 4pm in the First Light Café.
About Elaine Cawley Weintraub
Elaine Cawley Weintraub is a historian whose research on the African American history of Martha’s Vineyard has been published by the New England Journal of History, Mystic Seaport Museum, and the Organization of American Historians. A former history department chair at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, she was a finalist for Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and was named Massachusetts Global Educator of the Year in 2003. A Paul Cuffe Fellow, she is recognized for original scholarship on minority contributions to New England’s maritime history. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Change and has spent decades researching, teaching, and sharing Island history.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | October 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |