Cultural tourism too often reduces complex human stories to plaques and monuments, treating history as something distant and concluded rather than living and relevant. We believe differently. When you walk in their footsteps, you step into the actual spaces where people lived, worked, dreamed, struggled, and triumphed. You stand in the same spot where Maggie Walker built America's first bank led by a Black woman, where freedom seekers found sanctuary behind Fort Monroe's walls, where jazz legends performed in Jackson Ward's theaters, and where students at HBCUs organized sit-ins and freedom rides that transformed America. This physical connection to place creates emotional and intellectual connections that no textbook or documentary can replicate—suddenly, history becomes about us, our shared humanity, and the ongoing work of building the more perfect union that each generation inherits and shapes.
Heritage Points system rewards genuine engagement
The "Walk In Their Footsteps" philosophy guides everything AAHA! Virginia does, from how we design heritage trails that encourage immersive exploration, to how we partner with Black-owned businesses so your heritage journey supports the communities that keep these stories alive, to how our Heritage Points system rewards genuine engagement with sites through educational programs, oral history participation, and community service. This philosophy drives our emphasis on Know Your History (KYH) to understand the timeline and context of events, Know Your Story (KYS) to connect heritage to your own family narrative and lived experience, and Walk In Their Footsteps (WITF) to transform learning into personal transformation through physical presence in heritage spaces. Walking in their footsteps changes you—more connected to community, more aware of how the past shapes the present, more inspired by the resilience and innovation of those who came before, and more committed to being a cultural steward who helps preserve these stories for generations yet to come. This is heritage tourism as transformative, authentic, community-centered, and economically sustainable. Join us in walking in their footsteps and discover how Virginia's African American heritage can change your understanding of history, yourself, and your place in the ongoing American story.