FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anika Lopes, alopes.pi@gmail.com
New Juneteenth Heritage Walking Tour to Celebrate Amherst’s Historic Black Families, Showcase Myriad Contributions and Lives of Local Residents
AMHERST, Mass. – Starting today on Juneteenth weekend, a new walking tour of local historic homes and museums will showcase the unique history and contributions of generations of Black families in Amherst that ranged from music to manufacturing. Ancestral Bridges, a local nonprofit organization, collaborated with the Amherst Historical Society & Museum, local organizations, and the descendants of local Black families to produce the Juneteenth Heritage Walking Tour, a 1.5-mile story-filled tour that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the day-to-day experiences of Black Amherst residents from 200 years ago to more modern times.
“There is so much important Black history in Amherst that has been hidden from view for too many years,” said Anika Lopes, founder of Ancestral Bridges. “With this walking tour, we are pulling back the curtain, highlighting the way that my family and other Black and indigenous historic residents of Amherst lived and worked, what they hoped and fought for, so that Black youth and others can understand this part of our history and use it to grow.”
The Juneteenth Heritage Walking Tour is the first descendant-led and curated walking tour of its kind in the area. A family-friendly event on Saturday, June 18 will serve as a kick-off of the walking tour and encourage local residents and visitors to explore exhibits featuring historic photographs, artifacts, and millinery that bring to life the essence of Black neighborhoods in Amherst.
The tour begins at the historic West Cemetery to honor the lives and contributions of the all-Black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the famed 5th Cavalry, the soldiers who alerted Texas residents that the Civil War and slavery had ended. This event is the origin of the holiday celebrated as Juneteenth.
Additional tour stops include special exhibits at the Amherst History Museum with artwork and images from the mid-18th century and on; The Emily Dickinson Museum, where stories of Charles Thompson and other Black residents familiar with the Dickinson Family are featured; Hope Church, the first Black church in Amherst; and Goodwin Memorial AME Zion Church. The event is to be emceed by descendant William Harris, Jr., president and CEO of Space Center Houston.
Neighborhoods featured on the tour include the Westside District (Hazel Avenue, Baker Street, Snell Street, Northampton Road), which was designated a National Historic District in 2000 thanks to the efforts of Dudley J. Bridges, Sr; and the neighborhood of McCellan, Beston, and Paige Streets.
Also featured on the walking tour will be a special art installation by local artist Dr. Shirley Jackson Whitaker that will highlight the Tote2Vote campaign, launched recently to raise awareness of voter suppression.
Details for those who wish to attend the Saturday, June 18 public event are below.
What: Juneteenth Heritage Walking Tour inaugural event; free to all, no registration needed.
When: Tour begins at 11 AM; event ends at 5 PM.
Where: First stop is West Cemetery, Triangle Street, Amherst, Massachusetts; additional stops (in order) include The Emily Dickinson Museum, the Amherst Historical Society & Museum, Hope Church, and the Goodwin Memorial A.M.E Zion Church. Music and community party at The Drake.
Who: Open to the public
Details: Transportation is available for those with limited mobility; meet at Amherst Regional High School at 10:30 AM. Light refreshments will be served.