The Hopkinsville Christian County Historical Museum, in partnership with the Hopkinsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, will offer bus tours on Saturday that teach passengers about local African-American history.
The bus tour is modeled after Hopkinsville’s African American History Cell Phone Tour, a self-guided audio experience that allows individuals to call in and hear detailed information about more than a dozen historic sites.
Brooks Memorial Hospital is one of several stops on the Hopkinsville African American History Cell Phone Tour, and on Saturday, a Juneteenth bus tour will visit several landmarks along the route. (Photo: Grace Abernethy)
Alisa Keller, executive director of the Hopkinsville Christian County Historical Museum, said she hopes the tours will help shed light on the diverse background of the community.
“We don’t have separate histories. We may have separate stories, but those stories all tie together as one greater expression of who we are as a community,” Keller said.
The tour visits the cemetery, clinic, church and Attucks High School, which served black students in the area before school integration.
Keller said one of his favorite places is Union Charity Cemetery No. 5 on Vine Street.
“The Vine Street property was purchased in 1866 by local African-Americans who had recently been freed from slavery. They bought the land and established this charitable organization — to provide a place for loved ones to be buried when they passed away.”
Buses depart from the Hopkinsville Boys & Girls Club on Saturday afternoon. Each tour has a maximum of 10 people and is first come, first served. Tours depart at 1:15, 3:15, and 4:15 PM and last approximately 45 minutes.
These history tours coincide with Hopkinsville’s Juneteenth celebration, which is hosted by representatives of the Historically Black Fraternity and Sorority known as the Divine Nine and will feature music, food, a fashion show and other entertainment. The event will be held Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Hopkinsville Boys & Girls Club.
This story is republished with permission from WKMS. Read the original.
