Join us for a our second annual Mount Vernon Civil Rights Walking Tour! We’ll visit nine stops throughout downtown Mount Vernon and hear little-known stories of Mount Vernon’s place in the nation’s history to protect and expand civil rights, and of Mount Vernon residents who played important roles in promoting the causes of abolitionism, women’s equality, and racial equality. Join us to learn about Black and female pioneers in Mount Vernon, the city’s participation in the Underground Railroad, the visits of famous national figures like Frederick Douglass, and political debates about civil rights and equality in Mount Vernon’s past. 

The tour will start at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (200 N. Main Street) with complimentary donuts and coffee in the courtyard. Parking is available on the street near the church or in the parking lots across from the church. Tour starts at 1:30 and concludes by 3:00. Be prepared to walk approximately ¾ of a mile around downtown Mount Vernon. Maps will also be provided so that participants can drive between stops if necessary. In case of rain, the tour will take place on Sunday, September 18, starting at 1:30pm.

Free and open to everyone!

Join us for a community meeting! We’ll be talking with Pearce Hague, community liaison at the Gund Art Gallery, about plans for a new downtown space devoted to encouraging community conversations around race, and to Marty Trese Will about plans to make the Mount Vernon Farmer’s Market more accessible. Please come find out more about what KARE is doing in the community and how you can be part of it!

The Knox Alliance for Racial Equality (KARE) is sponsoring a Mount Vernon Civil Rights Walking Tour on Saturday, October 23rd, beginning at 10:30am. The tour will start at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (200 N. Main Street) with complimentary donuts and coffee in the courtyard. It includes nine stops that help tell little-known stories of Mount Vernon’s place in the nation’s history to protect and expand civil rights, and of Mount Vernon residents who played important roles in promoting the causes of abolitionism, women’s equality, and racial equality. Join us to learn about Black and female pioneers in Mount Vernon, the city’s participation in the Underground Railroad, the visits of famous national figures like Frederick Douglass, and political debates about civil rights and equality in Mount Vernon’s past. 

The walking tour is free and open to the public. Parking is available on the street near the church or in the parking lots across from the church. Coffee and donuts will be available at 10:30; the tour itself will start at 10:45am and conclude by noon. Be prepared to walk approximately ¾ of a mile around downtown Mount Vernon. Maps will also be provided so that participants can drive between stops if necessary. In case of rain, the tour will take place on Sunday, October 24, starting at 1pm.