2026 Spring Appeal
Celebrating Preservation Month
Dear Friends
As we at long last welcome Spring, the season of renewal and growth, we invite you to join the Du Bois Freedom Center in recognizing Preservation Month, a celebration of the places, stories, and heritage that define who we are as a nation.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s theme, “All people are created equal,” invites us to recognize and honor the places that stand as testament, remembrance and hope. The places that bring the country’s most powerful promise to life.
We know that the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Great Barrington is just such a place.
A formative influence in the early life of civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois, and a hub of Black life in the region, the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church was more than a place of worship. Today, with your support, the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church is being restored into a vibrant center of Black thought and reflection, the first museum and living memorial in North America dedicated to Du Bois’ life and legacy. The church is also one of a small percentage of sites on the National Register for Historic Places focused on African American heritage.
As our work continues with the goal of returning this historic church to the center of public life, the Du Bois Freedom Center is quickly becoming a beacon of history and storytelling. We are building more than a museum, but rather a living, community-driven. space for reflection, learning, discourse, and cultural exchange.
Our Visitor Center at 309 Main Street in Great Barrington is a hub of information, education, and engagement for visitors, students, and residents to discover the rich and essential history of African American life, culture, dialogue, and art.
We invite you to join us for one of our many exciting summer events throughout the Berkshires, sign up for a walking tour, or drop in and chat with our resident historian.
Learn More about our upcoming programming, guided walking tours, and open house opportunities at www.duboisfreedomcenter.org
We look forward to welcoming you soon as we celebrate Du Bois’ vision and connect Great Barrington to essential national and global conversations on history, democracy, freedom, and equity. Please help us to grow our reach and our work.
Thank you for your friendship and support.
With gratitude,
Dr. John D. Lloyd
Interim Executive Director, Du Bois Freedom Center
Restoration Milestones!
Since acquiring the church in 2017, the Center has carried out a phased restoration to preserve this irreplaceable site for full public use. The church that makes all of this possible is still undergoing restoration. Your gift this May will help complete the final phase - opening this historic space to even more of our community.
2021 — Completed emergency roof work and structural stabilization
2025 — Completed roof work, cedar shingles, structural repair, and upgrades
2026–27 — With your support, we will meet our goal to raise a new foundation to create a usable lower-level
The Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church is more than a building. It is the heart of the Du Bois Freedom Center. From restoring its walls to powering the programs that bring our community together, your gift keeps this vital work alive and growing.
Help Us:
Restore the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church
Support a summer of celebrations and community events
Inspire learning through W. E. B. Du Bois’ legacy
Preserve North America’s only active institution of its kind—one that is thriving, educating, and building community!
Discover - Why History Matters!
Join us this Summer as together we Connect, Learn, and Reflect on the stories of the lives and places that continue to inspire and shape us.
We invite students, educators, families, travelers, community groups, and lifelong learners to join us for an immersive walking tour exploring the life, legacy, and enduring impact of W. E. B. Du Bois. Through storytelling, local history, public art, and reflection, participants connect Du Bois’ work to the challenges and conversations of today.
A distinctive feature of our tours is the integration of historic imagery of the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church alongside Du Bois’ “living literature,” ensuring these histories remain visible, relevant, and actively engaged by 21st-century audiences.
Tour Dates: May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, Aug 8, Aug 23, Sept 5, and Sept 19
Be Sure to Ask About Bespoke Group Tours for Your School, group, or Organization
Email Us at office@duboisfreedomcenter.org
Join Us for our exciting summer events
throughout The Berkshires
In this 250th anniversary of the American Experience, the Du Bois Freedom Center is proud to be partnering with so many community friends, such as Mass College of Art, Norman Rockwell Museum, The Mount, UMAss Du Bois Center, The Berkshire Theatre Group... to bring history to life, spark conversation, celebrate the lives and stories that continue to shape us and reflect on what they have to teach us about today.
