This site was established as a schoolhouse by the Trinity Church in 1799. In 1869, the Shiloh Baptist Church purchased the building. Founded by Rev. Edmond Kelley, an escaped enslaved man, and pastored for years by Rev. Henry Jeter, himself an emancipated enslaved man, the building stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith, community, and the quest for freedom.
Rhode Island Slave History Medallions invites the community to a special Juneteenth Semiquincentennial Living History Celebration at Fort Adams State Park in Newport.
Held on the parade grounds inside the fort, this family-friendly event will commemorate Juneteenth while also honoring the anniversary of the Revolutionary War and the history of the Battle of Rhode Island.
We invite all visitors to learn more about RISHM’s events and accomplishments in 2025 and support our Annual Campaign, from Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) through 401 Gives Day (April 1, 2026).
RISHM relies on the generous support of private donations to continue the underrepresented but important work of marking the landscape of where slave history happened in Rhode Island.
