Poster by John Johnston of Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, who received an Honorable Mention in the 2003/2004 First Freedom Student Competition.

The First Freedom Center's Mission

The mission of the First Freedom Center is to advance the fundamental human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.


The First Freedom Center is…

• A non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization based in Richmond, Virginia.
  
• Non-political; does not advocate a particular political viewpoint.
  
• Non-denominational; does not ally with any particular faith, but rather, holds as one of its tenets that all persons are entitled to freedom of religion.
  
  

The what and why of our work

• “First Freedom,” historical language prioritizes the fundamental belief that if the heart and mind are not free, nothing else is free. The Virginia Statute of 1786 provided the basis for First Amendment. Government will neither coerce belief nor allow bias against belief.
  
• The right to believe or not to believe should be elevated to a renewed position of preeminence in the American conscience.
  
• Through a multi-faceted educational process, the Center encourages responsibility to both understand our own beliefs while respecting the beliefs of others.
  
• Embedded in history, the American character, and the American Dream, religious freedom is our most distinctive gift to the world. The First Freedom Center, then, will be both the “face” at home, and the “hope” abroad for this issue.
  
• In a post “9/11” world, where individuals both die for faith and kill for religion, we neglect this issue in the geopolitical calculus at our considerable peril.
  

History of the First Freedom Center
The First Freedom Center was founded in 1984 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, adopted in 1786 by the Virginia General Assembly. The Virginia General Assembly was then working from temporary quarters in a warehouse near the corner of 14th and Cary Streets in an area of downtown Richmond, Virginia, known as Shockoe Slip. This document served as the template for the first clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Through this legislation, religious freedom moved from being an abstract philosophical ideal to being a legally protected human right. Although we continue to enjoy religious freedom, the “warehouse” at 14th and Cary Streets where this landmark event occurred no longer exists and now serves as a parking lot.

The mission of the First Freedom Center evolved from commemoration to education – to educate the public about the history and importance of the Statute’s guiding principle – that all persons are entitled to freedom of conscience unfettered by the State. The Center was appropriately founded in and continues to be based in Richmond.

In 2002, the First Freedom Center further defined its mission and goals when its board of trustees began to focus its efforts on an educational center. Such a facility will be dedicated to promoting understanding and respect for religious freedom. The Center's board secured professional expertise in planning, educational program development, and capital project management. In anticipation of the Center, it completed acquisition of the historic site and surrounding properties.

Phase one of the First Freedom Center lies adjacent to the historic site where the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was enacted into law. The Center has returned to productive use the long-vacant and deteriorating late 19th century commercial buildings that stood on this busy and highly visible corner. The redevelopment began in November 2004 and the Center moved its offices there in September 2006. Historic Housing, LLC and S.W.A. Architects have been active in the redevelopment to ensure that the character of the buildings remains intact and is consistent with the architecture of the historic district known as Shockoe Slip. The renovated buildings now house the Center’s offices, educational exhibits, classroom and meeting space. The renovation of these properties contributes significantly to the revitalization of the area by providing a thriving and attractive gateway to Main Street and downtown Richmond.

The final phase of the First Freedom Center will be constructed at the prominent corner of 14th and Cary Streets on the site where the Virginia General Assembly, in 1786, passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and, for the first time in history, placed into law the protection of religious freedom.  The Center will add to the cultural richness of downtown and provide an opportunity to partner with other fine Virginia historic sites and attractions. 

The future Center will carry on our mission by providing enhanced exhibits and programs that examine America's progress in striving for religious freedom.  Political issues, pending legislation, and litigation continue to define these freedoms today.  The Center will present these issues in a balanced way, so that the visitor can arrive at his or her own opinion.  In addition to recognizing Virginia's role in the establishment of religiuos freedom, the Center will promote economic development and pride in Richmond's cherished heritage.