The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom at Leesylvania State Park will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February. The property that became Leesylvania State Park had a part to play with the flight of two runaway slaves, as well as a slave who escaped captivity in 1848.

Black History Month programs at the libraries will feature a puppet show, stories from black history and black authors and Freedom Quilt squares.

On Feb. 23, visitors can actually spend the night in the slave quarters on site. Historians and interpreters will be there to help people learn about the life of those who were living and working at Ben Lomond.

In 1894, Frederick Douglass gave a speech in the area. Those who go to the Lucasville School near the fairgrounds in Manasas on Feb. 10 will have the opportunity to hear that speech and learn more about the life of Douglass.

Everyone has a story to tell – the story of who they are and where they come from. The “Origin Project” historically tells student stories of the Appalachian Region of Southwestern Virginia. For the first time ever, this project has expanded outside of Appalachia, to include a group of students at Stonewall Jackson High School (SJHS).

Prince William County's Department of Historic Preservation reports that it submitted the "1902 Brentsville Colored and White Poll Books" to the Virginia Association of Museums Top 10 Most Endangered Artifacts list, "to bring awareness to these unique and important pieces of history." The poll books were selected as part of the Top 10. There will be public voting for up to $5,000 in funds that would go to preserve the 116-year-old books. Voting is Jan. 15-24 at http://www.vamuseums.org/?page=top10

Bull Run Civil War Round Table in Centreville, Va., a 501 (3) c organization, is offering a $2000 scholarship to a public or private high school senior who resides either in Fairfax County, Prince William County, or the City of Fairfax, Manassas, or Manassas Park.

Legislation recognizing six Virginia tribes: the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond-has passed Congress and is on its way to the President for his signature. Many of these include descendants of Pocahontas’ Virginia Powhatan tribe Kaine and Warner worked with Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure that the bill made it through to final passage. These tribes had received official recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia, but had not received federal recognition, which will grant the tribes legal standing and status in direct relationships with the U.S. government.