In recognition of Black History Month and the Civil War Sesquicentennial, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism will present “Dred Scott: House Divided” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church.

The event is free to the public.

The host of the evening will be well-known storyteller Bill Foster, retired chairman of the University of North Alabama English Department.

The event will include stories of Florence during the Civil War, period music and a discussion of the various aspects of the Dred Scott decision followed by audience discussion.

Dred Scott, of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott Decision of 1857, came to Florence in 1820 as a slave of the Peter Blow family where he remained for 10 years before the family relocated to Missouri. While in Florence, Scott served as hostler at the Peter Blow Inn on what is now Pine Street.

In the 1857 Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court ruled that black Americans who were either slaves or the descendants of slaves could not be, and had never been, U.S. citizens. The decision was a key factor leading up to the Civil War.

Stories of Scott’s life in Florence will be shared during the event.

Libby Jordan, director of cultural tourism, said the event promises to deliver a great deal of little-known information.

“Many people don’t even realize (Scott) lived in Florence,” she said. “He had such an influence on the timing of the Civil War because of this decision. It really brought the issue of slavery to the forefront. It’s going to be a very enlightening evening.”