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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Underground Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania | Columbia, PA
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T100000
DTSTAMP:20260420T160437Z
CREATED:20260420T160437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T160437Z
UID:4574-1777622400-1777629600@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Lancaster - Grand Opening Weekend of the Stevens & Smith Center Ribbon Cutting
DESCRIPTION:The Grand Opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy! \nJoin LancasterHistory for a weekend celebration\, including a ribbon cutting\, Grand Opening Gala\, and a family-friendly community block party \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Opening on May 1\, 2026\, in the heart of downtown Lancaster\, the restored historic properties once owned by Thaddeus Stevens and his partner Lydia Hamilton Smith are re-envisioned as a state-of-the-art museum and education space. Innovative exhibits\, created with leading historians and designers\, confront slavery\, freedom\, and the ongoing fight for equality in America. LancasterHistory—together with many collaborative partners—are eager to welcome the public for this once-in-a-generation moment for our community\, a celebration as bold as the history it honors!\n\n\n\n\n\nThe excitement kicks off Friday morning as we officially open the Stevens & Smith Center with a celebratory ribbon-cutting! Doors open at 8am for coffee\, light fare\, and mingling. At 9am\, the program begins with inspiring remarks and special guest performances that set the stage for a powerful new chapter. \nThis event is free and open to the entire community; we can’t wait to celebrate with you! Please RSVP so we can ensure ample seating and plenty of breakfast items for everyone. Join us as we mark this historic moment together and open the doors to something extraordinary! \nRSVP for the Ribbon Cutting Questions about the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony should be directed to Erin Sell at ERIN.SELL@LANCASTERHISTORY.ORG or 717.392.4633\, ext. 141. \n\n 
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/lancaster-grand-opening-weekend-of-the-stevens-smith-center-ribbon-cutting/
LOCATION:Stevens Smith Center for History and Democracy\, 13-15 East Vine Street\, Lancaster\, PA\, 17602\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="LancasterHistory":MAILTO:info@lancasterhistory.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T120000
DTSTAMP:20260430T152926Z
CREATED:20260430T152926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T152926Z
UID:4600-1777719600-1777723200@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Gettysburg: Walking tour of McAllister's Mill site
DESCRIPTION:This Saturday\, walking tours will begin of Gettysburg’s most famous authentic Underground Railroad site. First recognized by the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (UGRR NTF) in 2011\, the McAllister’s Mill site\, just south of town\, is part of a nationwide collection of sites that have a verifiable association to the activities of the Underground Railroad. A one-hour walking tour will take you in the very footsteps of many of the freedom seekers who came from Maryland\, Virginia and Washington DC as they made their way north to escape slavery. \nTours are given every Saturday at 11 AM from May through August\, rain or shine. Hundreds of visitors have taken advantage of this unique opportunity to visit a rarely seen\, privately owned part of the battlefield. The walk to the McAllister’s Mill Site from the historical marker at the parking lot is a somewhat strenuous\, approximately one-half mile round trip mostly in the woods\, and it is led by a corps of experienced and knowledgeable Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC) tour guides.
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/gettysburg-walking-tour-of-mcallisters-mill-site/
LOCATION:McAllister’s Mill site – leaving from Mulligan McDuffer Golf\, 1360 Baltimore Pike\, Gettysburg\, PA\, 17325\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T182914Z
CREATED:20260402T145103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T182914Z
UID:4517-1777719600-1777726800@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Lancaster: Guided UGRR Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:This tour is focused on the Underground Railroad and includes four authenticated Underground Railroad sites. Because the Underground Railroad was by necessity secret\, uncovering the details of its existence has required a great deal of detective work. This tour includes the latest research and recent discoveries which further reveal the rich fabric of African American history in Lancaster before and after the Civil War. \nAdult $17 \nSenior (65 and older) $10  \nStudents (6-18) $5 \n 
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/lancaster-guided-ugrr-walking-tour/
LOCATION:City of Lancaster Visitor Center\, 25 S. Queen St.\, Lancaster\, PA\, 17602\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T133000
DTSTAMP:20260402T151757Z
CREATED:20260402T151757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T151757Z
UID:4528-1777719600-1777728600@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Lancaster: Living the Experience - UGRR reenactment
DESCRIPTION:Living the Experience is a spiritual\, interactive reenactment of the Underground railroad. Patrons get a chance to step inside the shoes of Africans seeking their freedom in the 1800’s in Lancaster\, Pennsylvania. The production is the first Underground Railroad reenactment in Central Pennsylvania and has been sharing the story for 27 years. Each includes our reenactment\, a southern style meal and access to local vendors on site.
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/lancaster-living-the-experience-ugrr-reenactment/
LOCATION:Bethel AME Church – Cultural Center\, 512 E. Strawberry St.\, Lancaster\, PA\, 17602\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="Bethel AME Church of Lancaster":MAILTO:LTE@bethelamelancaster.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T121500
DTSTAMP:20260430T220542Z
CREATED:20260430T220542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T220542Z
UID:4622-1778320800-1778328900@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Kennett Square: Underground Railroad Heritage Bus Tour
DESCRIPTION:Our popular\, family-friendly bus tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide.  You will visit documented Underground Railroad sites\, historic homes and Quaker Meetinghouses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area.  The tour also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery. \nMeet us at our headquarters in the Kennett Heritage Center.  From there you will board a small air-conditioned bus and visit documented Underground Railroad sites\, historic homes and Quaker Meetinghouses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area. The tour also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery.
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/kennett-square-underground-railroad-heritage-bus-tour/
LOCATION:Kennett Heritage Center\, 120 N. Union St.\, Kennett Square\, PA\, 19348\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="Kennett Underground Railroad Center":MAILTO:info@kennettundergroundrr.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T183836Z
CREATED:20260430T183836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T183836Z
UID:4611-1778605200-1778612400@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Lancaster:  Live & Learn Series 2026 - The William Whipper Reading Circle
DESCRIPTION:Lancaster Live & Learn Series 2026 – The William Whipper Reading Circle\n\n\n\n\n\nLancaster Public Library\, 151 N Queen St\, Lancaster\, PA 17603\, USA\n\n\nAbout the event \n\n\n\nThe Commonwealth MonIn honor of the late Lenwood “Leni” Sloan of Lancaster\, known and revered as an historian\, cultural steward and self-described “catalytic agent\,” the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania and the Lancaster Public Library will continue to host and support the series of free public events Sloan organized last year before his unexpected passing. Titled “Lancaster Live & Learn: Animating Democracy 2026 —The William Whipper Reading Circle\,” the overall series has been named in honor of William Whipper (1804-1876)\, the noted 19th century entrepreneur from Columbia\, Lancaster County who rose to national prominence as an author and an activist who advocated for Black civil rights and was a conductor of the secretive work of the Underground Railroad \nAccording to an outline Leni Sloan prepared for this series\, William Whipper began the reading circle in his Philadelphia home to bring together thought leaders and change agents. Each meeting explored current and relevant literature and oration as blueprints to achieving democracy. “We’ll use the elocution of these 19th century African American leaders as blueprints for civic dialogue about the current struggle to achieve “liberty and justice for all\,” Sloan wrote in 2025. \nMay 12 – DR. JAMES TROTMAN\, Facilitator and CHRIS BALLENTINE (pending availability)\, Respondent \nBook: Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine  \nSpeech: Frederick Douglass\, 1894 – Lessons of the Hour
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/lancaster-live-learn-series-2026-the-william-whipper-reading-circle/
LOCATION:Lancaster Public Library – LPL Board Room\, 151 N. Queen Street\, Lancaster\, PA\, 17603\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260515T150000
DTSTAMP:20260430T214804Z
CREATED:20260430T214804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T214804Z
UID:4613-1778850000-1778857200@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Northeast PA: Destination Freedom: Endless Mountains Kickoff Events
DESCRIPTION:The Destination Freedom: Underground Railroad Walking Tour at the Waverly Community House is expanding to the Endless Mountains region! Since 2017\, the Destination Freedom program has highlighted the 19th century Underground Railroad\, abolition\, and anti-slavery movements in Northeastern Pennsylvania with walking tours and events that tell the complex story of the role that local residents played in their own escape from bondage and the individuals that vitally assisted in the journey to freedom. While Destination Freedom has largely focused on Waverly’s history\, the local story of the Underground Railroad cannot be told without connecting the numerous people and places that courageously participated in that perilous journey. \nPlease join us as we kick off the expansion of Destination Freedom and partner with the Endless Mountains Heritage Region for a new series of walking tours! We’ll be having a free presentations that will examine the history of the Underground Railroad and how you can engage with that history not just in Waverly\, but across northeastern Pennsylvania. \nhttps://endlessmountains.org/event/destination-freedom-in-the-endless-mountains-kickoff-events \nMay 15 at 1:00 p.m. at The Dennis Farm in Kingsley
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/northeast-pa-destination-freedom-endless-mountains-kickoff-events/
LOCATION:Historic Dennis Farm\, Creek Road\, Kingsley\, PA\, 18826\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="Endless Mountains Heritage Region":MAILTO:info@endlessmountains.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260519T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T073000
DTSTAMP:20260519T204902Z
CREATED:20260430T220042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T204902Z
UID:4618-1779202800-1779262200@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Multi-State Freedom Walk 2026 in PA - retracing Freedom Seekers route to Canada
DESCRIPTION:#FreedomWalk2026 \nA major 250th-anniversary commemoration led by the Menare Foundation\, this 8-week\, 750-mile journey retraces Underground Railroad routes from Maryland to Canada.  The project includes stops in Pennsylvania  (with an overnight “station” in Philadelphia) and will feature community activations such as lectures\, tours\, service projects\, and opportunities for the public to participate. It is positioned as both a historical pilgrimage and a modern call to reflection and engagement. It will be stopping in PA at the Old Kennett Meeting House\, 1109 East Baltimore Pike in Kennett Square on May 18\, departing on the 20th. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe 750-mile pilgrimage\, following 19th-century routes to freedom\, will commemorate the brave self-liberators\, the abolitionists\, and their secret networks\, during the 250th anniversary of American independence. The journey will draw upon the legacy and achievements of previous generations to galvanize modern activists to work toward truth-telling and transformation.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n#FreedomWalk2026 envisions a nation where America’s unfinished story is completed to form a more just and perfect union. Uniting past and present we seek to re-ignite the ideals of “We the People”—sparking inspiration for future generations to secure equity\, justice\, and liberation for all. \nIt arrives late afternoon May 18th and is scheduled to leave on Wednesday the 20th in the early morning and may be gone if you wait. I\nFor more information check out the website:\nhttps://www.menare.org/freedomwalk2026-join\n\n\n\n\n\nhttps://www.menare.org/freedomwalk2026-about
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/multi-state-incl-pa-freedom-walk-2026-retracing-freedom-seekers-route-to-canada/
LOCATION:Kennett Heritage Center\, 120 N. Union St.\, Kennett Square\, PA\, 19348\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260523T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260523T160000
DTSTAMP:20260430T221544Z
CREATED:20260430T221544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260430T221544Z
UID:4625-1779544800-1779552000@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Caledonia State Park: Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop
DESCRIPTION:Thaddeus Stevens was NOT a blacksmith. He owned the 10\,000 acres that comprised Caledonia Ironworks. As a leading abolitionist\, he advocated for the end of slavery\, and it is suspected his Caledonia Ironworks was used as a conduit for the Underground Railroad. In June\, 1863 the Army of Northern Virginia marched north into Chambersburg\, and then turned east on route 30\, heading towards an unknown and insignificant town of Gettysburg. On route\, Confederal General Jubal Early burned the village of Caledonia in retaliation for Stevens’ anti-slavery views. In Steven Spielberg’s 2012 film “Lincoln”\, Thaddeus Stevens is played by the actor Tommy Lee Jones. Come learn the forgotten and neglected history of Thaddeus Stevens and Caledonia Ironworks.
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/caledonia-state-park-thaddeus-stevens-blacksmith-shop/
LOCATION:Caledonia State Park\, 101 Pine Grove Road\, Fayetteville\, PA\, 17222\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="Thaddeus Stevens Society":MAILTO:info@thaddeusstevenssociety.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260530T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260530T170000
DTSTAMP:20260426T183146Z
CREATED:20260426T183146Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T183146Z
UID:4594-1780146000-1780160400@ugrrmuseumpa.org
SUMMARY:Yardley: Ye Old Yardley Festival & UGRR Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:From 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.\, attendees will travel over to Gather Place at the Historic AME Church of Yardley (188 South Canal Street\, Yardley\, Pa 19067)\, where history is brought vividly to life through: \n\n1800s Period-dressed interpreters and storytellers\nLiving history experiences reflecting the cultural traditions of the community\nOutdoor hospitality under a large tent featuring traditional foods such as fresh fried fish & chicken\, macaroni and cheese\, greens\, and cornbread\nSoft\, inspirational music creating a welcoming and reflective atmosphere\n\nAt 3:00 p.m.\, guests may choose between two meaningful experiences: \n\nAn Underground Railroad Guided Walking Tour along the Delaware Canal towpath at Lock #5\, connecting participants to “IT HAPPENED HERE!” – real local stories of freedom and resilience (limited to 30 walkers; RSVP required – contact us at info@gatherplace.org or 215.595.2722\nA Quaker Experience at the Yardley Friends Meeting House\, featuring historical displays\,\n1700s Period-dressed interpreters and storytellers\nStorytelling\, and Traditional Olde English refreshments\n\nFrom 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.\, all attendees will reconvene at the Yardley Friends Meeting House for a closing program\, celebrating shared history and community connection
URL:https://ugrrmuseumpa.org/event/yardley-ye-old-yardley-festival-ugrr-walking-tour/
LOCATION:Yardley Friends Meeting House\, 65 North Main Street\, Yardley\, PA\, 19067\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="Historic African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Yardley":MAILTO:info@gatherplace.org
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