About us

The Black Heritage Preservation Alliance of Richmond, Virginia grew out of a simple realization: there was a small but dedicated community of Black preservationists working across Richmond who didn’t know each other. What started as an informal happy hour has now grown into an active alliance.

BHPA-RVA is a network of archaeologists, historians, genealogists, historic site staff, and other preservation professionals dedicated to protecting the places, stories, and objects connected to Richmond’s Black community. We educate the public, track legislation, conduct on-the-ground preservation work, and advocate for the historic resources that might otherwise be overlooked. We believe that preservation is stronger when the people doing it know and support each other, and we welcome any and all who value Richmond’s Black heritage.