01/26/2026
Experience the American Tapestry at the Atlanta History Center
On July 4, 2026, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Across the nation, communities will celebrate this milestone—but the American Tapestry exhibition asks us to do more: to engage deeply with the full, complex story of how our nation was made.
Recent events, including the removal of the slavery memorial at the President’s House in Philadelphia, underscore the urgency of preserving every thread of our shared history. When essential threads are lost or ignored, the tapestry of our collective memory is weakened.
The American Tapestry brings that history to life as a single, interwoven work of art—strengthened, not diminished, by its complexity. Thirteen hand-embroidered panels, one for each of the original colonies, are being created by skilled artisans from New Hampshire to Georgia.
Each panel highlights contributions often overlooked yet essential to the struggle for independence. When completed, the panels will travel to all thirteen colonies, connecting communities through shared memory, reflection, and civic engagement.
For Georgia, the Atlanta History Center proudly serves as the host site, welcoming both the panel and the stitchers to engage the public in this living tapestry.
Developed in partnership with historical associations nationwide, the project is grounded in scholarship, shaped by community care, and made visible through the artistry of the stitchers themselves.
History here is not fixed on a wall—it is woven, preserved, and made tangible by human hands.
A central highlight of the Georgia Tapestry panel is the tribute to the Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint-Domingue, the Creole militia from what is now Haiti who fought with extraordinary courage during the 1779 Siege of Savannah.
Composed of both enslaved and free men, these soldiers held English fire long enough to allow Colonial forces to retreat, preventing what could have been a devastating massacre.
Fighting for wages, honor, and in many cases the promise of freedom, they became the largest Black armed force to serve in the American Revolution, playing a pivotal role in one of the most diverse and consequential battles of the war.
The panel also depicts a young drummer boy who would later become one of Haiti’s kings, Henri Christophe, linking this chapter of American history directly to the founding of Haiti.
This panel invites a profound question: Why did Black soldiers, many of whom were enslaved or the descendants of enslaved people, fight for the independence of a nation that still practiced slavery? Their answer is woven into courage, strategy, hope, and the complex pursuit of liberty—a story this exhibition brings vividly to life.
The Haitian American Historical Society erected a memorial statue honoring these soldiers, ensuring that their bravery and sacrifice are never forgotten.
The Georgia Tapestry panel affirms this legacy and highlights the annual commemorative march each October to the battlefield site, a living tribute to their courage and global impact.
We encourage visitors to participate in the march and visit the memorial statue, engaging with history firsthand and reflecting on the resilience and enduring contributions of these remarkable soldiers.
This tribute panel, created in collaboration with the Coastal Heritage Society of Savannah, connects communities, memory, and scholarship, reminding us that the story of America is a living, interwoven tapestry.
As the nation looks toward its next 250 years, the American Tapestry affirms a simple truth: the future we are weaving depends on whether we choose to preserve every thread of the past.
America's Tapestry https://www.americastapestry.com/tapestries/georgia
