The Historical Society will be participating in this year’s Juneteenth festivities on Saturday, June 20th at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Since this is the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the Juneteenth festival will be even larger with numerous activities and  food trucks -  and admission is free!

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration marking the end of the slavery in the United States. This is the day the people of Texas found out that slavery in Confederate states had been abolished, even though it came two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. To celebrate, HSP will be showcasing some of our fugitive slave narratives that allow participants to walk in the shoes of real people who managed to escape to Philadelphia. This will include an interactive game for kids to understand the difficulties faced on the Underground Railroad.

This is going to be a fantastic event for all involved,and we look forward to seeing you there. For more information, please contact us, and remember to check out our Underground Railroad Unit Plan that features the stories of real fugitive slaves helped to safety by Station Master William Still.