Memorable Sands: Beaches of Northeast North Carolina and Southeast Virginia Traveling Exhibit

Memorable Sands:  Beaches of Northeast North Carolina and Southeast Virginia features images from African American beaches in the region including Chowan Beach in Hertford County, Bias and Hargraves Beaches in Currituck County, Bogues Beach in Pasquotank County and Seaview Beach in Virginia.  During the hot days of summer, thousands of local residents and visitors gather at regional beaches and swimming holes to cool off. In the early to mid-1900s, beaches were segregated with white and African American beach-goers sharing the same water, but not the same sand. Segregation had denied ethnic groups, such as African Americans and American Indians, access to public beaches.  As a result, members of these communities began to develop their own in the late 1920s. Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, summer at these beaches meant a time and place where visitors could socialize, relax, swim, picnic, enjoy music, and take part in other various recreational activities. Memorable Sands seeks to capture these memories and share them for all to enjoy. Contributions of graphics and research to the exhibit from institutions such as Elizabeth City State University, the Chowan Discovery Group, the North Carolina Museum of History, and Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, Virginia Beach, Virginia were very valuable in making this exhibit possible. The Museum extends its greatest to thanks Frank Stephenson, Jr. for his interest and foresight in collecting items related to Chowan Beach. The Museum also thanks the Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle for making this traveling exhibit possible.