2025 Town Tours and Village Walks
The summer program, Town Tours and Village Walks, returns for its 31st year with the theme of "Untold Stories." This year's programs will focus on people and places that are not the economic or social elite, war heroes, or celebrities. The featured sites will represent the everyday citizens and places of Chester County that are the foundation of our history and heritage. Featured sites include those connected to the Underground Railroad, the shift workers of our industries, educators, farmers, Revolutionary War soldiers, and more. Some of the sites featured this year include Barnard Station in Pocopson, Coatesville's business district, charcoal production sites at Warwick County Park, and more.
The programs are free and held weekly, on Thursdays, from June 12 to August 21 (excluding June 19 and July 3), at locations throughout Chester County. Every program starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. The 2025 program will kick off at Church of the Holy Trinity in West Chester.
Download and share the 2025 Town Tours and Village Walks Brochure.
August 7 — Oxford Region Self Guided Driving Tour
The Oxford Area Historical Association invites you on a journey of the small villages in the Oxford region, such as Homeville, Russellville, Tweedale, Hopewell, and Lewisville. These historic villages highlight the agricultural and scenic resources that characterize the area. Established by William Penn in 1682, Chester County includes Nottingham Township, first surveyed in 1702 and later divided into East and West Nottingham in 1715. Elk and Oxford Townships were formed from this land in the mid-1800s. Early settlers were primarily English, Scottish, and Irish, with some Swedes, reflected in local place names like Christine Road, named for the Queen of Sweden.The land's cultivation and the establishment of taverns led to the creation of place names that continue to be used in the area today.
Driving tour start: Oxford Area Historical Association, 119 S. 5th St., Oxford
August 14 — Hopewell Furnace NHS
Join us for a walk through the heart of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. For the decades the furnace operated, many people provided the labor and materials for its operation. We will focus the tour on the lesser known people that called the Furnace their job and home. We will look at Colliers that made the charcoal, the drovers that shipped raw materials and finished goods, the school that served the village, and the families that lived there.
Parking: Hopewell Furnace Visitor Center, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson
August 21 — Historic Yellow Springs, W. Pikeland Township
DID YOU KNOW vaccinations were given to Revolutionary War soldiers at Yellow Springs?
DID YOU KNOW patient John Knight was wrapped in spring water soaked sheets as part of his spa treatment?
DID YOU KNOW deceased PA Orphan School children are buried at the Vincent Baptist Church cemetery on Art School Road?
DID YOU KNOW an English landscape gardener designed the Water Meadow pathways?
DID YOU KNOW Burt Bacharach wrote music for THE BLOB, Steve McQueen raced his Corvette through our country roads and Patty Duke, Lee Meriwether and Robert Lansing starred in movies made here by Good News Productions?
Join us and learn so many "untold stories" from over 300 years of history at Yellow Springs.
Parking: 1701 Art School Road, Chester Springs
The Chester County Planning Commission is pleased to support the 2025 Town Tours & Village Walks and thanks the many partners and volunteers who make the program an annual success, as we welcome this summer's participants in learning about the county's heritage. The program is also supported by the Chester County Board of Commissioners, the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau, the Chester County Historic Preservation Network, and the Chester County History Center.
Previous Tours
2024 Town Tours and Village Walks Recap
The 2024 Town Tours and Village Walks celebrated 30 years of the program and saw an amazing turnout with more than 1,700 visitors. Learn more.
2023 Town Tours and Village Walks Recap
The 2023 Town Tours and Village Walks program welcomed more than 1,500 individuals to explore Chester County's agricultural heritage through a series of presentations and tours this past June through August. Learn more.
2022 Town Tours and Village Walks Recap
Chester County's Town Tours & Village Walks program wrapped up another great series of events in its 28th season highlighting the "Founding Mothers and Fathers" of Chester County's past! The tours welcomed 1,220 attendees with many familiar faces returning this year as well as lots of new faces. Learn more
2021 Virtual Town Tours and Village Walks Recordings
The 2021 Town Tours and Village Walks Summer Series took place virtually and in person. View the recordings from 2021.
2020 Virtual Town Tours and Village Walks Recordings
The 2020 Town Tours and Village Walks Virtual Summer Series took place virtually through Zoom, a free video conferencing software for use with computers, tablets and cell phones. View the recordings from 2020.