Internship at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum Blog Post #3

Benjamin Banneker’s Family Tree

 Benjamin Banneker’s maternal grandmother was a maid from England names Molly Welsh who came to America as an indentured servant. It is unclear if Molly's name was spelled Welsh or Molly Walsh or if Molly was even a real person. According to Marth Elliot Tyson, one of the first biographers of Benjamin Banneker, Molly was able to acquire  Molly Welsh bought and married an enslaved man from  Senegambia with who she had four children with. One of their daughter’s name was Mary, and she married a former slave named Robert. Together they purchased One hundred acres of land in Oella Maryland in 1737. Robert put Benjamin’s name in the deed to guarantee his freedom. Banneker would live on that 100 acres of land his entire life. The story of Banneker’s family tree is incredibly interesting because of how unconventional it and inspiring it is, in my opinion.

Myths about Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker is one of the most complex figures in American history. What I mean by this is that Benjamin Banneker’s achievements and legacy is filled with misconceptions of what he accomplished and who he was a person. One of the most common myths that the staff at the museum hear is that Benjamin Banneker built the first wooden clock in the United States. Another myth is that Benjamin Banneker designed the city of Washington DC.  What is true is that Benjamin Banneker was able to construct a wooden clock by deconstructing a pocket watch. Benjamin Banneker also played an important role in the surveying of Washington DC as a timekeeper and equipment maintainer. Banneker made sure that the astronomical clock the surveying team was using was accurate, and its accuracy was critical to the team's work. Banneker also took the field and astronomical measurements. An important job working here at the museum is to differentiate between fact and fiction and clear up any myths about Banneker.

The Legacy of Benjamin Banneker

Benjamin Banneker was an important figure in American history because was a black person that was courageous as he stood for the equality of the races and he sent a letter to Thomas Jefferson advocating that black person were equal to white people. Benjamin Banneker lived in a time when many people, including Thomas Jefferson, considered black people to be inferior to white people. Despite this, Bannaker was able to have reat accomplishments such as becoming a best selling author, a talented scientist, and being involved in the creation of a new nation. 

What I have learned

I have worked at the museum since January, and I have learned much not only about Benjamin Banneker’s life and achievements but also about local history. I have also learned much about the nature and wildlife of the Patapsco Valley, which I think has gotten me interested in learning more about gardening and environmentalism. I know that the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum is a great resource for learning about history and wildlife, for adults and children. So far, I have greatly enjoyed my time working here. The pictures below are of the manikin of Benjamin Banneker in the museum gallery. The second image is of L'Enfant's plan for Washington DC.