Credit: Montgomery County.
Three of Montgomery County’s historic sites will offer special programming on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, to commemorate Juneteenth, the state and federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.
Each event invites visitors to discover the lives, struggles, and legacies of enslaved and free African Americans in early Pennsylvania.
Pottsgrove Manor Forgotten History Tours
Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22
Tours will run every hour on the hour, beginning at 10 a.m. with the first tour on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The final tour of the day starts at 3 p.m. both days. A donation of $2 per person is suggested.
These guided tours will highlight the experiences of enslaved and free people of color who lived and labored in the households, forges, and furnaces of the Potts family. John Potts Sr. was a wealthy Pennsylvanian ironmaster who was no stranger to utilizing enslaved and free labor to support his household and iron industry. Their names appear in his 1768 probate inventory: Margaret, Nancy, Flora, Andrew, Arch, Guinea, Cesar, Ishmael, Mulatto Peter, Cato, Cudgeo, Black Peter, Adam. Visitors can hear their stories and connect with their forgotten histories.
Peter Wentz Farmstead Juneteenth Tours
Saturday, June 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The tours are free and recommended for visitors aged 13 and older. Timed tickets are required and space is limited.
Peter Wentz Farmstead will offer special Juneteenth tours focusing on the lives of enslaved individuals held by the Wentz family and their guests. These tours place the Farmstead’s local history within the wider context of slavery in early Pennsylvania.
Pennypacker Mills Sojourner Truth Performance
Saturday, June 21, at 4:00 p.m.
Admission is free; seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pennypacker Mills will present a dramatic portrayal of abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth. This powerful performance brings to life Truth’s enduring message of freedom, justice, and equality for all.
For more information about the County’s Historic sites and upcoming events, visit the website.
