The Black Experience in Essex County is an important part of the history of the region. Despite the fact that people from Black communities have been an integral part of public and private life in Essex County for centuries, their contributions have not always been well documented or presented.  With support from an African American Civil Rights rant from the National Park Service, Essex Heritage is building on a resource guide created by Dr. Kariba Baumgartner and Dr. Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, titled “The African American Experience in Essex County, Massachusetts: An Annotated Guide.” This project serves to promote public awareness of the history of the Black Experience in the Essex National Heritage Area through the sharing of theme-based historic primary sources, by providing access to existing websites related to our theme, and by publicizing local events about Black heritage.