1838 Black Metropolis "Sitting" Walking Tour

Many people in our community are unable to do a full walking tour because of various different types of physical limitations. We want our histories to be accessible to everyone and so we are launching our first ever sitting walking tour!

This tour will be in Starr Garden.

Starr Garden is both the site of many untold Black histories but is also surrounded by infrastructure built and used by the antebellum Black community. In this very historically important location, we will embark on a captivating narrative in the heart of Philadelphia's rich history, an exploration of the Free Black population before the 1850s. Delve into the narratives of real individuals unveiled through meticulous research from the 1838 Pennsylvania Abolition Society Census.

This immersive experience will discuss significant civil rights sites, clandestine Underground Railroad locations, and recently unearthed Black-built churches and halls - all within eyesight of where you'll be sitting in Starr Garden.

Tailored for those 18 and over, this tour courageously delves into challenging histories, celebrating the remarkable achievements of our ancestors.

This sitting walking tour will last about an hour and half.

Participants will be sitting on folding chairs that will be placed in a circle on grass. Starr Garden is flat and it's main entrance is flat. There will be about a 50 to 75 foot walk from the entrance, to where the chairs will be arranged. This walk will be over grass and concrete.

With each tour offering fresh insights and newly unearthed information, be prepared for a unique experience every time.

Host or Publisher 1838 Black Metropolis