PRESERVING HISTORY
HONORING LEGACY
OUR MISSION
The Gist Settlement is one of the oldest African American settlements in Ohio, founded in the early 1830s through the will of Samuel Gist, a wealthy Englishman who freed his enslaved people. His vision provided land and opportunity for nearly 44 freedmen and freedwomen and their families to begin new lives in freedom.
Nearly two centuries later, the Gist Settlement remains a living legacy. Unlike many other settlements from this period, Gist Settlement still exists today with descendants of the original families continuing to live on the land, farm it, and honor their ancestors in the community cemetery.
Our mission is to preserve the history of Gist Settlement, amplify the voices of its descendants, and ensure the story of resilience, freedom, and self-determination lives on for generations to come.
Through storytelling, oral history collection, preservation projects, community events, and education, we are working to share the powerful story of Gist Settlement with the wider world.
This is not just history, it's a story of legacy, strength, and community. And we invite you to be part of keeping it alive.
Preserving the Past. Honoring Legacy. Building the Future.
