The Chester County History Center and Chester County Planning Commission recently highlighted historical events in West Chester that contributed to Juneteenth in a walking tour and accompanying presentation, writes Lauren Turman for FOX 29.

Juneteenth is the commemoration of June 19, 1865, the day when the last enslaved Africans in the U.S. were freed.

The Town Tour and Village Walks of the Juneteenth Commemoration are part of a larger initiative that has been ongoing for nearly three decades. It is one of seven tours that will happen this year based around the “Journeying Towards Freedom” theme. The highlighted places will focus on the community and its relationship to Black citizens, businesspeople, the Civil War, and abolitionists.

Each event takes months to plan, according to Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz.

“We have a great, long, 300-year history of the historical nature of the anti-slavery movement,” she said. “It’s important that people recognize that and celebrate that, especially this year.”

The walk took participants to more than 10 sites highlighted for their place in history.

Vernet Spence-Brown enjoyed the walk and said that she hopes it will foresee a new era of education about Juneteenth.

“I hope people get to know what Juneteenth is and the importance of this day,” she said. “The walk was interesting, learning about people that you know of and their relationship to these streets, and just how connected everything is.”

Read more about the tour and presentation at FOX 29.