Pirates are often the subject of films and books that depict them as either dashing swashbucklers or dastardly outlaws, but these popular depictions obscure the reality of pirates in the Delaware Valley. Piracy emerged as a major concern in the Atlantic world in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, and Pennsylvanians routinely contended with pirates, […]
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter and aid to enslaved men, women and children on their journeys to freedom. This family-friendly walking tour will visit eight locations around downtown West Chester that served as a backdrop for the people involved in this clandestine operation. The tour covers approximately 1.25 miles, lasts […]
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter and aid to enslaved men, women and children on their journeys to freedom. This family-friendly walking tour will visit eight locations around downtown West Chester that served as a backdrop for the people involved in this clandestine operation. The tour covers approximately 1.25 miles, lasts […]
“My ancestors were from Chester County, what records do you have?” “Do you have birth records?” “When did my ancestors get married?” “My ancestor was listed as an inmate in the taxes, what crime did he commit?” “What are poor school children records?” These are some of the most frequently asked questions by genealogists at […]
Many of West Chester's leading citizens are buried at Oaklands Cemetery (founded 1854), but there are dozens of stories that remain untold as well. Join the education staff of the Chester County History Center to learn true tales of the soldiers, statesmen, lawyers, doctors, musicians, athletes, artists and more that found their final rest at […]
Oaklands Cemetery has served as one of West Chester’s primary memorial landscapes since 1854, but it also holds a place within the larger world of well-designed garden cemeteries that redefined the burial ground during the middle decades of the 19th century. This talk will provide a historical framework to help us better understand cemeteries like […]
Have you ever wondered what happens at the museum when it's closed? We'll share its secrets with your stuffed friends at our Sleepover! On Friday, August 12th from 2:00pm to 4:30pm, drop off your stuffed animal or favorite toy at the front desk of the Chester County History Center.* We'll take them on an adventure […]
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter and aid to enslaved men, women and children on their journeys to freedom. This family-friendly walking tour will visit eight locations around downtown West Chester that served as a backdrop for the people involved in this clandestine operation. The tour covers approximately 1.25 miles, lasts […]
Of the hundreds of Union Army generals, ten had connections to Chester County. One won the Medal of Honor; several died in action. This presentation honors the lives, campaigns, and achievements of our county's top officers in the American Civil War. About the Speaker: Dave Walter is a retired chief financial officer, who has always […]
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter and aid to enslaved men, women and children on their journeys to freedom. This family-friendly walking tour will visit eight locations around downtown West Chester that served as a backdrop for the people involved in this clandestine operation. The tour covers approximately 1.25 miles, lasts […]
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter and aid to enslaved men, women and children on their journeys to freedom. This family-friendly walking tour will visit eight locations around downtown West Chester that served as a backdrop for the people involved in this clandestine operation. The tour covers approximately 1.25 miles, lasts […]
In 2020, the Chester County Archives staff unveiled their award-winning 1777 Chester County Property Atlas. This project highlights property owners, roads, and notable sites of interest (mills, taverns, places of worship, etc.) in existence in September 1777 during the Battle of Brandywine and succeeding events of the Philadelphia Campaign. Learn more about how this project […]
225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 | 610-692-4800
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