Corsets and Contraband: African American Labor in the Fight for Freedom

Come to Historic Blenheim for a drop-in program exploring the courageous contributions of African American women during the Civil War.
Engage with living historians and discover the remarkable stories of three extraordinary women: Lucy Ann Walker (The Clothesline Spy), interpreted by Yvette Blake; Mary Bowser (The Confederate White House Black Dispatcher), interpreted by Denise Benedetto; and Mary Louvestre (The Ironclad Informant), interpreted by Debora Brown.
Learn how skills and labor often dismissed as “women’s work” became vital tools of resistance, intelligence gathering and survival. Drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for an immersive experience that includes exhibit displays, themed stations, historic interpreters, scheduled talks, film screenings and hands-on activities — all courtesy of the Scandalous Women of the Civil War Guild.
