Legacy Walk at Roberts Settlement: An Interactive Journey
In late 2018, a chapel building assessment and study was completed with the intent of exploring a memorial and exhibition walk on the grounds of Roberts Settlement. In 2021, Hamilton County Community Foundation funded a conceptual design for what would become, “The Legacy Walk at Roberts Settlement.” In late 2022, a silent fundraising campaign was launched and in February 2023 announced to the public.
By July, 2024 more than $500,000 in donations, grants and in-kind services were raised from the “IMAGINE! BLACK PIONEERS!” campaign and the Legacy Walk was unveiled to Roberts Settlement descendants during its 101st Homecoming. In October, 2024, the Legacy Walk was opened to the public in a VIP ribbon cutting.
The Legacy Walk’s Footprint
An accessible walking path, beginning at the Indiana State Historical Marker and looping through the westside of the Chapel, provides the means for a self-guided journey through Roberts Settlement’s Black pioneer history as well as a peaceful place for reflection. Visitors are greeted by “Morning Light,” a dazzling entry feature symbolizing exploration, discovery, opportunity, and hope.
Beyond, the Legacy Walk takes visitors through four separate interpretive-themed stations: Roots & Migration, Progress & Perseverance, Faith & Education, and Legacy & Footprints. Each station includes a title monolith, a bench, and a graphic reader rail with interpretive content. A downloadable QR code takes visitors to a dedicated website (STQRY) where they can gain additional insight. Structures are fabricated from Corten-style steel and faux stone.
The Legacy Walk at Roberts Settlement, as well as the surrounding grounds, is a public space to enjoy and embrace the rich history Indiana’s Black pioneers in Hamilton County.
Grants, Donations & In-Kind Services that Helped Make the Legacy Walk Possible
With support from the Lilly Endowment Inc., this project was funded by a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Roberts Settlement was one of 35 organizations in 22 states to receive a total of $4 million in grant funding to advance long-term and sustainable strategies that strengthen stewardship and asset management, interpretation and programming, and fundraising activities for historic Black churches across the country. This program works to uplift the legacy of often-overlooked Black churches, ensuring their legacy of spirituality, history, and democracy endures.
