Discover Stafford

06/18/2026

Tomorrow is Juneteenth, and Stafford County is celebrating in a big way! 🎉 Join the Stafford County NAACP for the 2026 Juneteenth Commemoration and Celebration on Saturday, June 20th, 10 AM–5 PM at Colonial Forge High School (550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554). Expect music, art, storytelling, youth activities, cultural performances, guest speakers, and community resources. This year's motto says it all: "Educate to Advocate… then Activate." Freedom didn't end in 1865; it continues to evolve through awareness, action, and unity. See you there! 🗓️ More info:https://pulse.ly/q4ystrjzkg

Celebrate Stafford NAACP’s 5th Annual JUNETEENTH with live entertainment, food, reenactments, a vehicle showcase, vendors, & more!

06/17/2026

Freedom is more than a proclamation; it's built in the businesses opened, the trades mastered, the families sustained. The Stafford African American Heritage Trail's Entrepreneurship and Work theme traces the Black-owned businesses, farms, and industries that took root in Stafford County after emancipation and beyond. These are stories of people who built futures from next to nothing, and whose descendants still walk these roads today. This Juneteenth week, we celebrate their legacy. Explore the full trail at staffordafricanamericantrail.com ✊

06/16/2026

Stafford Trivia 🗓️
Stafford’s Heritage Trail traces 300 years of African American history, from early settlements to modern contributions, showcasing the county’s diverse cultural fabric.

06/15/2026

The Rappahannock River has been the heartbeat of Stafford County for thousands of years. 🌊 Paleo-Indians, the Patawomeck tribe, European settlers, Revolutionary soldiers, Civil War armies, and generations of Stafford families have all lived alongside this river. Captain John Smith sailed these waters in 1608. Pocahontas was kidnapped near Indian Point on its banks. Iron, grain, and commerce flowed through Falmouth at its crossing. 💬 Question for the community: What does the Rappahannock mean to you? Share a memory, a photo, or your favorite spot along the river in the comments below!

06/14/2026

📍 From prehistoric settlements to modern milestones, Stafford’s past is full of stories waiting to be told. Start your journey with us! 🕰️ https://pulse.ly/rtqjx7jcnt

06/12/2026

Did you know that the stories of Stafford County stretch back more than 400 years of American history?

From early colonial settlements to the Civil War and beyond, Stafford’s past helped shape the nation we know today.

Explore the people, places, and moments that made history right here in our community.

📚 Dive into the stories → https://pulse.ly/aa0bwdcrgu

06/10/2026

Not everyone knows that one of the Harlem Renaissance's most celebrated painters was born right here in Stafford County. Palmer Hayden (1890–1973) grew up in Widewater, Virginia before making his way to New York and Paris, where his vibrant, emotionally resonant work earned him a lasting place in American art history. His paintings celebrated African American life, folklore, and culture at a time when those stories were rarely told. Stafford shaped who he became. Discover his full story at discoverstafford.org 🎨

06/07/2026

As we count down to Juneteenth, we're shining a light on one of the most powerful themes of the Stafford African American Heritage Trail (SAAHT): Journey to Freedom. The trail documents over 300 years of Black history in Stafford County across more than 20 locations: stories of faith, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the long road toward freedom. This month, we invite you to walk (or drive) the trail and see Stafford through a new lens. The full route map is available at discoverstafford.org/museum/saaht/ or visit staffordafricanamericantrail.com to launch the interactive guide. Where will your journey begin? ✊

06/03/2026

🗺️ Explore Stafford’s historical map, interactive stories, and heritage trail — perfect for curious minds this February! What will you uncover? 🔍 https://pulse.ly/63xf4dqdx2

06/02/2026

🔥 Stafford is a “burned record” county: about two-thirds of its court records were lost during the Civil War, complicating genealogical research.

Union vandals raided the courthouse and clerk’s office at least twice and stole or destroyed the records. They dumped thousands of records out into the yard between the courthouse and clerk’s office. Essentially, they destroyed nearly every loose paper that had been generated between 1664 and 1862, as well as some of the bound volumes. They also stole records and carried them home. After the war, the court sent men out to retrieve a couple of volumes for which they learned of their location. Over the last 15 years or so, two stolen volumes of early court records have been returned.

The term “burned record” throws many people. It actually refers to the loss of court records by any means, not strictly by fire.