Program Overview
Step into the 18th century as Dontavius Williams, nationally recognized historical interpreter and founder of The Chronicles of Adam, brings backcountry cooking to life at the James K. Polk Historic Site.

Through fire, smoke, and storytelling, Williams will demonstrate how African Americans—both enslaved and free—shaped the foodways of the Carolina backcountry. Visitors will watch as traditional dishes are prepared over the open hearth, gaining insight into the skill, resilience, and creativity that sustained families in the backcountry.

On the Hearth

• Witness the preparation of:
• Stewed Rabbit with Garden Herbs
• Hoe Cakes Greens simmered with pot liquor
• Molasses-Sweetened Sweet Potatoes

Each dish carries a story of survival and cultural blending—where African traditions, Indigenous knowledge, and backcountry necessity met around the fire.