TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) will unveil the first New Jersey Black Heritage Trail historical marker at 720 Franklin St. Cape May, New Jersey on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 1pm.

The marker will recognize the Franklin Street School and the determination of Cape May’s Black community to provide equal educational opportunities to their children. The festivities will also recognize the nearby Macedonia Baptist Church/Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jersey as an accepted site on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail and feature reflections from former Franklin Street School students. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, but registration is requested. Registration information can be found at https://bit.ly/franklinstreetschoolunveiling.

Signed into law by Governor Murphy on September 7, 2022, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail legislation calls for the NJHC to establish a Black Heritage Trail that will “highlight Black heritage sites through historical markers and a trail-like path that connects the stories of Black life and resiliency.”

“The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail is an important addition to our state’s landscape,” said Lieutenant Governor Way who oversees the New Jersey Historical Commission in her role as Secretary of State. “The Trail uplifts the histories and resiliency of our African American communities through historical markers, augmented reality experiences, and educational programming.”

Since 2022, sixty-one nominated sites have been selected for the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail. In addition to the Franklin Street School and the Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jersey, other sites include: the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium, the New Jersey home of Negro Leagues baseball when African American baseball players were excluded from Major League teams, Red Bank’s T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, home of one of the most influential American journalists and newspaper publishers of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Dr. James Still Historic Office and Education Center, home of the “Black Doctor of the Pines” who was born to formerly enslaved freedom seekers in Washington Township.

The trail is intended to be a living trail inviting visitors and passersby to engage with the sites’ art and history. Each historical marker will be 30x42 inches with black letters against a white background with gold trim. The markers will be mounted on a 7-foot pole. A square 6x6-inch aluminum plate will be attached to most marker poles with a QR code that leads visitors to the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail website. On select markers, including the Franklin Street School, visitors will find a 5x10-inch aluminum plate with a Virtual Museum QR code. The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Virtual Museum invites viewers to learn more about Black history and heritage sites in New Jersey through photographs, documents, and other related information. No application is required to access the Virtual Museum, but visitors will need to scan the QR code and follow the on-screen prompts to activate the experience.

New Jersey Black Heritage Trail sites are selected through a community-driven process. Each year, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail reviews nominations from the public as well as staff recommendations. The final selections are approved by the New Jersey Historical Commission.

In addition to historical markers, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail provides programmatic opportunities. Those interested in attending a Black history event connected to the Trail can find a curated list of offerings at https://linktr.ee/blackhistorynj.

“The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail team has worked tirelessly to provide an engaging and expansive program,” said Sara Cureton, executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission. “I hope visitors and residents alike will take advantage of this opportunity to explore New Jersey and learn more about the many contributions made by African Americans to our state.”

As part of the legislation, the Historical Commission will work in cooperation with other state agencies, each of which has a unique role in implementing the project. This includes the Division of Travel and Tourism, New Jersey’s leading voice for promoting the importance of tourism as essential to the state’s economy, image, and overall quality of life; the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, which is charged with preserving, protecting, and promoting the state’s historic resources; and the New Jersey Black Heritage Foundation, which prioritizes broadening and diversifying statewide participation in and appreciation for Black arts, history, and culture.

About the New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy.

About the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail
Under the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, the New Jersey Historical Commission will work in cooperation with other state agencies, such as the Historic Preservation Office, the Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as local governments, owners or operators of Black heritage sites, and others to identify a series of sites. The bill also names the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation as a principal collaborator, due to its mission which includes broadening, deepening, and diversifying statewide participation in and appreciation for Black arts, history, and culture.