March 7th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., host of the PBS program “Finding Your Roots” had the opportunity to discover his own ancestry in a special program recorded at the Allegany Museum. The show was produced last April when Gates was handed his own “Book of Life” that he usually presents to guests on his program. Vic Rezendes of the Allegany Museum said it was the first time PBS took the show on the road…

   

“They’ve always filmed it always from the studio, but because it was related to Henry – Skip, as they call him, they decided to come home to Cumberland and film it here at the museum.”

Rezendez can’t reveal any surprises, but says it was a touching experience…

   

“It was an emotional experience. One for him, to find out who his ancestors were because they had a brilliant genealogist doing all the work, but also for the family. One the last day they had a meeting with all the family when they –he revealed to them who their ancestors were.”