Department of Historic Resources (www.dhr..gov) For Immediate Release September 12, 2017 Contact: Randy Jones Department of Historic Resources 540.578-3031 (cell) [email protected].

STATE HISTORICAL HIGHWAY MARKER “OTA BENGA (CA. 1885-1916)” TO BE DEDICATED IN LYNCHBURG

—Ota Benga, a Congolese man, was brought to the U.S. in 1904 for display at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and later the Bronx in New York City. In 1910, rescued by African American ministers, he arrived in Lynchburg to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary and College; Ota Benga died of suicide in 1916—

—The marker text is reproduced below—

RICHMOND – A state historical marker issued by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources that recalls the tragic story of Ota Benga, a young Congolese man brought to the United States for exhibition at a World’s Fair in the early 20th century, will be dedicated this weekend in Lynchburg.

The dedication and unveiling ceremony for the marker begins at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 16, on the campus of Virginia University of Lynchburg (formerly Virginia Seminary and College), at the sign’s location along the corner of Dewitt Street and Garfield Avenue in Lynchburg. The public is encouraged to attend.

Featured remarks during the ceremony will be provided by Pamela Newkirk, author of Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga, and by H. E. Francois Nkuna Balumuene, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Other ceremony participants will include Ann van de Graaf, of Africa House; Ted Delaney, of the Southern Memorial Association; Dr. James E. Coleman Jr., of Virginia University of Lynchburg; Joan Foster, Mayor of Lynchburg; residents of Lynchburg Shaun Spencer-Hester and Henry Fleming; Carl B. Hutcherson, of the First Baptist Church South Lynchburg; the Rev. Reason A. Chandler Sr., of Jackson Street United Methodist Church; Jim Hare, of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources; and Hunter Hayes III, a descendent of Gregory Willis Hayes, then-president of Virginia Theological Seminary who brought Benga to live in his family’s home.

The Soulsters from the Hill will provide a musical contribution during Saturday’s ceremony.

Following the ceremony, Africa House will host a reception, open to the public, and display an exhibit thematically based on Ota Benga. Givens Book Store will host a book signing by author Pamela Newkirk, whose book about Benga will be available for purchase.

The historical marker recalls the life of Mbye Otabenga, known later as Ota Benga. Born in the present- day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benga along with “eight other Congolese purported to be ‘Pygmies,’” in the marker’s words, were brought in 1904 by a Presbyterian missionary “to be displayed at the St. Louis World’s Fair.”

Benga later was exhibited in the “Monkey House” at the in New York. “Outraged African American ministers secured his release from the zoo and placed him in an orphanage in ,” the marker states. In 1910, Benga was brought to Lynchburg to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary and College. “Despondent over his inability to return to Africa, he committed suicide in 1916,” the marker concludes.

The Ota Benga marker was approved for manufacture and installation earlier this year by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new historical markers. The sign’s manufacturing cost is covered by the marker’s sponsor Africa House.

Virginia’s historical highway marker program, which began in 1927 with the installation of the first historical markers along U.S. Route 1, is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,500 official state markers, most maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, as well as by local partners in jurisdictions outside of VDOT’s authority such as Lynchburg.

Text of marker: Ota Benga (ca. 1885-1916)

Mbye Otabenga, later known as Ota Benga, was born in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1904 the Rev. Samuel P. Verner, adventurer and former Presbyterian missionary, brought Benga and eight other Congolese purported to be “Pygmies” to be displayed at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Two years later the Bronx Zoo in New York exhibited Benga in its “Monkey House” alongside an orangutan. Outraged African American ministers secured his release from the zoo and placed him in an orphanage in Brooklyn. In 1910 Benga was brought to Lynchburg to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary and College. Despondent over his inability to return to Africa, he committed suicide in 1916.

Department of Historic Resources, 2017

# # #