Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/113255
24-32__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 8:06 AM Page 29 PENSACOLA, FL African-American were among the first non-Native Americans to set foot in the United States when they were brought over as slaves in 1559 to Pensacola, where they continue to play a vital role in the city's history. Walk along the streets of historic downtown, from Seville Square to Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza and experience that history with stops at the African-American Heritage Society and Old Christ Church. The church, built by slaves in 1824 is the oldest church in the state still on its original site. Also along the journey through historic downtown is The Julee Cottage Museum, a simple wood-frame building built around 1804. It's the city's only surviving "sidewalk to street" construction. It belonged to Julee Patton, a free woman of color who purchased the freedom of fellow enslaved Blacks and now serves as a Black history museum. The Florida panhandle community of Pensacola is the birth home of Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr., the first Black four-star general in U.S. military history. Shortly after his retirement in the late 1970s many were recruiting James to run for Lt. Governor of the state of Florida before he died of a heart attack. The private residence where James was born still stands and a marker honoring him is located in the city's Memorial Garden on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Three events to check out are the Pensacola JazzFest in April, Smokin' In the Square BBQ Cookoff in March and the city's annual Mardi Gras parade in February. To learn more go to visitpensacola.com. Father & son enjoy Pensacola Museum strolls Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, only hours from Northern VA and Washington DC, Charlottesville and Albemarle County, VA are the perfect VA a Washington DC, Mountains, County, VA meeting destinations. With an eclectic mix of restaurants, local vineyards and mountain trails nearby, it's no wonder this region was voted one of the With restaurants, mountain nearby, top 10 wine vacation destinations in the U.S. by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. To plan your next meeting go to visitcharlottesville.org visitcharlottesville.org. Wine Magazine. To M g. B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29