The Williamsburg Bray School, the oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children in the U.S., will open to the public in spring 2025. Located in Virginia, the school operated from 1760 to 1774, educating hundreds of Black children, both enslaved and free. Restoration crews and historians have been working meticulously to preserve this important site.
During the restoration, original flooring, 18th-century tool marks, and a fragment of a writing plate were uncovered. Colonial Williamsburg artisans are recreating period furnishings, including desks and books, to recreate the school’s authentic 18th-century atmosphere. In 1760, a charity from London established the school under Benjamin Franklin’s recommendation, and it operated for 14 years, primarily educating enslaved children.
Williamsburg Bray School’s public opening represents a powerful connection to America’s past, honoring the legacy of those who sought education against all odds.
