Sumner Hall

Sumner Hall speaks of important African American experiences, from the time of the U.S. Civil War to the present day. Within these walls, veterans and their families stories still resonate with us. Charles Sumner Post #25, chartered in 1882 by local Black Veterans in Chestertown, Maryland, was one of 56 Maryland G.A.R. posts, of which 22 were African American. The values of honesty, transparency, accountability, respect, collaboration and inclusion underpin our work. As a result, Sumner Hall has become a trusted community space where discussions and action planning about racial injustice, police-youth relations, and food insecurity take place. It is also a venue for celebration and the site of relevant exhibitions and educational programs.