Juneteenth | Freedom Stories of Gettysburg: Walking Tour & Living Portraits of Freedom

Part of the Official Juneteenth 2026 Programming

Freedom Stories of Gettysburg: Walking Tour & Living Portraits of Freedom takes place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center. This special program invites visitors to discover Gettysburg’s Black history through an engaging experience that combines guided interpretation with immersive living history.

The program begins at 10:00 a.m. with a guided Black History Walking Tour across the historic Seminary Ridge grounds. During the one-hour tour, participants explore stories of freedom, resistance, and community while learning about the experiences of Black Americans connected to Gettysburg during the Civil War era. The tour highlights individuals and locations that reveal the complex history of the region and the enduring pursuit of liberty.

Following the walking tour, the program continues indoors in Valentine Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with Living Portraits of Freedom, an interactive experience featuring historians and interpreters portraying influential historical figures connected to the struggle for freedom. Through first-person interpretation and storytelling, presenters bring the voices of the past to life while sharing the stories of individuals whose lives intersected with Gettysburg’s history. Visitors also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation with the interpreters, creating a meaningful and educational connection to the past.

Together, the walking tour and living history presentations offer a powerful opportunity to reflect on the lives and contributions of Black Americans whose stories are an essential part of Gettysburg’s history and the broader American journey toward freedom.