TCHP bridges the knowledge and resource gaps that contribute to African American ancestral home, land, and heritage loss — empowering families to protect the places, stories, and cultural identities that define Black life in America.
~200 yrs
Age of Covesville ancestral home
5 pillars
Land, preservation, education, community & advocacy
1 → 1000s
One house, a model to save thousands more
501(c)(3)
Registered nonprofit organization
Our Mission
No gatekeeping in historic preservation
The Country House Project is a descendant-led nonprofit working to bridge the knowledge and resource gaps that contribute to African American ancestral home, land, and heritage loss.
Through preservation support, education, advocacy, and community-centered solutions, we empower families and underserved preservation communities to protect the places, stories, and cultural identities that define Black life in America.
"Preservation is not only about saving buildings — it is about sustaining culture, strengthening families, and securing futures."
Every program we run flows from a core belief — that freedom, capability, and community ownership are the foundation of lasting heritage preservation.
01
= Freedom
Land & Legacy Protection
Heirs' property guidance, ownership structures & land retention strategies to prevent loss of generational assets.
02
= Capability
Preservation & Stewardship
Technical resources to restore historic structures and protect the physical spaces that hold community history.
03
= Community
Community Development
History days, oral history, family gatherings & intergenerational cultural programming.
04
= Choices
Education
Youth heritage camps, genealogy tools & accessible digital platforms for navigating heirs' property.
05
= Protection
Advocacy
Reducing external pressures threatening Black land ownership through policy influence & partnerships.
Our Story
It started with one house
A nearly 200-year-old ancestral home in the historic Black community of Covesville, Virginia — connected to the life and legacy of William Henry and Virginia Ann Williams — sparked a movement.
"Once Grandma's House disappears, so too can the connection between families, communities, and the stories that define them."
From rural farmland in Eastern North Carolina to migration-linked communities across the South and beyond, TCHP recognizes that African American history lives not only in textbooks, but in homes, churches, farms, and family stories passed down through generations.
What We Do
Our programs & services
From community archaeology to heirs' property training and family history events — every initiative moves families from awareness to action.
Active
YoU DiG — Archaeology for Everyday People
Who says archaeology is only for professionals? YoU DiG is TCHP's hands-on community archaeology program — designed to make discovery fun, approachable, and meaningful. Whether uncovering artifacts, tracing the footprint of an old homeplace, or learning what the land can teach us about those who came before — no experience required, just curiosity.
Active
Heirs' Property Training — Untangling Title One Family at a Time
Our staff is trained and certified by the Southern Rural Development Center to facilitate Understanding Heirs' Property at the Community Level. We help families navigate the confusion and resource gaps that prevent action — connecting them with legal and preservation resources before generational land and homes are lost.
Events
Kinnection X — Family History Day
Part family reunion, part humanities experience — Kinnection X creates spaces where communities can define themselves, document their story, honor their elders, and strengthen intergenerational connections. Incorporating oral history recordings, genealogy workshops, photo scanning, DNA investigations, time capsules, and youth engagement activities.
Active
Historic & Heritage Preservation Services
Practical preservation support for families, grassroots groups, and underserved communities. Services include forensic genealogy, preservation planning, feasibility assessments, architectural referrals, legal referrals, archival support, title abstracting, ArcGIS tool development, and heritage trade & agribusiness consultancy.
Our Impact
Building a scalable model for Black heritage
Operating at the intersection of historic preservation, heirs' property advocacy, cultural heritage, and community development, TCHP is building a community-driven blueprint for protecting Black land and identity.
~200 yrs
Covesville home age
5
Core program pillars
Rural & urban
Communities served
National
Reach & partnerships
Our Partners & Sponsors
Organizations we work with
We are proud to collaborate with organizations that share our commitment to descendant-led preservation, land justice, and cultural heritage.
The Descendants of Enslaved — VA
A Virginia-based organization dedicated to honoring the legacy and continuing the work of those enslaved in the Commonwealth.
