Sharswood Preservation Initiative

Preserving a Historic American Landscape

The Sharswood Preservation Initiative is the Sharswood Foundation’s primary campaign dedicated to the longterm protection, restoration, and interpretation of the historic Sharswood property in Gretna, Virginia. As one of the region’s most intact surviving sites of American chattel slavery, Sharswood represents a rare and irreplaceable cultural landscape—one that holds the stories, labor, and legacy of the enslaved families who lived and worked on this land.

This initiative ensures that Sharswood remains a place of truth, education, and remembrance. Through careful stewardship, historically accurate restoration, and responsible site management, the Foundation works to honor the people whose lives shaped this property and to preserve their history for future generations.

Why Sharswood Matters

Sharswood is more than a historic home. It is a living record of American history, containing:

• The main house, reflecting architectural evolution across centuries

• The restored slave dwelling, a rare surviving structure that provides direct insight into the lived experience of enslaved individuals

• The enslaved cemetery, a sacred space requiring ongoing protection and documentation

• Surrounding grounds and agricultural landscape, which help interpret the daily realities of plantation life

Few sites in the United States retain this level of integrity and historical continuity. Preserving Sharswood safeguards a narrative that is too often fragmented or erased.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Contributions to the Sharswood Preservation Initiative directly fund:

Structural Preservation & Restoration

• Stabilization and repair of historic buildings

• Preservation of original materials and architectural features

• Conservation of the slave dwelling and other outbuildings

Grounds & Landscape Stewardship

• Maintenance of the historic landscape

• Protection of the enslaved cemetery

• Environmental care to prevent erosion and structural damage

Historical Research & Documentation

• Archival research into the families connected to Sharswood

• Archaeological and genealogical studies

• Development of accurate interpretive materials

Education & Public Interpretation

• Onsite educational programming

• Community engagement initiatives

• Exhibits and digital resources that share Sharswood’s history responsibly and respectfully

Every contribution strengthens the Foundation’s ability to preserve the site with accuracy, dignity, and long?term sustainability.

Our Commitment to Stewardship

The Sharswood Foundation is committed to:

• Historical accuracy in all restoration and interpretive work

• Transparency in how funds are used

• Community engagement that honors descendants and local stakeholders

• Long term preservation planning that protects the site for future generations

Your support ensures that Sharswood remains a place where history is not only remembered, but actively taught, honored, and preserved.