It’s Monday 8:22 pm EST — Sorry, we’re closed. Visit us when we’re open!

About Our Center

Located in the Jefferson School City Center, The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center’s mission is to honor and preserve the rich heritage and legacy of the African-American community of Charlottesville-Albemarle, Virginia and to promote a greater appreciation for, and understanding of, the contributions of African Americans and peoples of the Diaspora locally, nationally and globally.

The Center features a permanent historical exhibit, a rotating contemporary art gallery, and a robust calendar of events, all of which combine to highlight Charlottesville’s African American history and culture of the African diaspora.

Contemporary Gallery

Veronica Jackson: A Constellation of BLACKTIVISTS

10 May – 9 August, 2025

Exhibition opening 10, May | 6-8 pm

The exhibition consist of two bodies of work, Jackson’s BLACKTIVISTS series, which she began in  that considers the lives of 12 Black women activists and her Constellation of Blackness  that uses the broadside format to articulate words by Audre Lourde and others that speak to the triumph of Black womanist self-accultalization.

Learn more

Finally Remembered: The Black Patriots of Central Virginia

20 September – 20 December, 2025

Exhibition opening: 20 December | 6-8 pm

The exhibition honors the African American Men and Women who served in the Revolutionary War. Through rare documents, profiles, military records, and historical interpretation, it restores the visibility of those whose courage helped shape the nation’s founding.

Spotlight Events & Programs

Upcoming Events

Screenings

MAUPINTOWN FILM FESTIVAL: BOLD & BEAUTIFUL

Time: Friday, September 5, 2025September 5, 2025 - 6:00 PM - September 7, 2025 - 6:00 PM /
The 12th Annual Maupintown Film Festival returns to Charlottesville’s historic Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, September 5-7, 2025, with a powerful lineup of films that celebrate the bold resistance and enduring beauty of Black history and culture. The festival began in 2014, and focuses on showcasing stories from around the world of African American […]
Culture & Heritage

Little Luminaries Story Time

Time: Saturday, July 26, 202510:30 AM - 11:00 AM / JSAAHC
Join us for Little Luminaries Storytime, a joyful morning of stories, songs, and fun for toddlers aged 2-5! Each week, we’ll read books that celebrate and teach about Black history, culture, and uplifting stories featuring African American characters. Perfect for little learners and their caregivers, this engaging program encourages a love of reading while building […]

Become a Member

Become a Member!

As a JSAAHC Member you’ll receive:

  • Free admission to exhibits and events.
  • Discounts on workshops, lectures, and programs.
  • Invitations to members-only events.
  • Discounts in Alumni Room Museum Shop and Café
  • And much more.
Help us plan for the future by taking our survey.
Help share authentic history by becoming a guide.

Hours:

Business hours 10 am -6pm;Exhibtion hours 1pm-6pm; Museum Shop and Cafe hours 9am-1pm

Location

233 4th St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Newsletter
Jefferson Heritage African American Center © 2020. All Rights Reserved