You are standing in front of a graphic panel titled “House History: Back Hallway.” To your left is a graphic panel and artifact case titled “Who Lived in This House?” To your right is the back hallway, which leads between section four of the exhibition (on the left) and section two of the exhibition (on the right). Behind you is a staircase leading upstairs. Please note that the staircase and upper floors are closed to visitors.

The panel in front of you includes text and three images.

The main text reads:

HOUSE HISTORY
Back Hallway

What was this space used for?
The house of a wealthy plantation owner included specialized spaces for receiving guests, dining, sleeping, and cooking. The back hallway to your right connected the kitchen and cellar with the dining room. It was designed so that enslaved people and servants could do their work without being seen. It also distanced the sounds and smells of food preparation from the dining room.

Think About It . . .
Think about how your home is laid out today. Are there spaces you consider public and private?

An image at the top of the panel shows an 1834 woodcut of African American children serving food to a white family.

Two additional images are headlined “House History Clues”:

A photo of the louvered the doors to your right. The caption reads: These louvered doors were designed to hide enslaved people and servants from view from guests arriving at the front door.

A photo of the ruins of a chimney in the basement. The caption reads: The ruins of a chimney in the basement show that the 1735 house was originally twice as long, with chimneys at both ends.