KURC Tour Description

Dates

• June 29, 2014
• July 27, 2014
• August 24, 2014

Details

All buses start at the Brandywine Valley Conference and Tourist Center, 300 Greenwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Phone 484-700-8550. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at 1:45 at the Tourist Center, the bus will leave at 2 p.m. and will be at least 1 1/2hr-2hrs.

Tour Cost

Payment is $20. for adults, $15. for children. This cost is only for the rental of the bus.

Volunteers

Volunteer guides are very well informed about the Underground Railroad in Kennett Square and environs. Payments for the tour should be by check made out to Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC). All payments, including email address and phone number should be mailed to 296 Kendal Dr., Kennett Square, PA 19348 and MUST be received before the tour. Tours will occur rain or shine. The bus is air conditioned.

Transportation

While we have buses that can accommodate 19-23, we need a minimum of 14 people to register so that the cost of the bus can be covered. All those who have signed-up will be contacted several days in advance if the tour is cancelled due to lack of adequate sign ups.

Questions? Call KURC number here. Your question will be answered within a couple of days. (Volunteers staff the line.)

Tour Covers

The tour will explain:

• Some of the history of the development of the Underground Railroad (URR)
• Why Kennett Square was such an important hub of the URR in the 1800's.
• The bus will pass at least 5-6 original abolitionist houses and provide research-based descriptions of the people who lived in these.
• The tour will go down the first street in Kennett. The guide describes the people who lived there. This street was from its origin integrated and continues to be today with descendants of abolitionists still living in the community. (If the weather is good, visitors may walk down the street with written information about abolitionists.)
• There will be an opportunity to get off the bus and enter an 1801 Quaker Meetinghouse with time to learn about Quakers of that era and why many were so committed to abolitionism.
• In 2015 the tour will include a visit the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (Museum?) at the original home of abolitionist Eusebius Bernard.
• Information about the Underground Railroad from early times have focused largely on the white people who aided fugitives. Now acknowledged is the significant contribution made by African Americans. This tour will include some of that history especially as it relates to Chester County, PA.

Other Information

Interested persons may take a self-guided tour at any time throughout the year by (stopping at the Tourist Center and asking for a written guide?) This written document will not be as thorough as a guided tour but it is a wonderful means to learn about Kennett Underground Railroad for those who cannot do an individual or group tour.

Books

There are two books that we recommend that are excellent references for understanding the Underground Railroad in Chester County:

• Smedley, R.C., History of the Underground Railroad in Chester and the Neighboring
  Counties of PA,(1883)*
• Kashatus, Just Over the Line: Chester County and the Underground Railroad.(2002).*

(likely available online and at libraries)