Historic Sites

Free Register Register in advance on Eventbrite Join a Park Ranger from the National Parks of Boston to explore the rich history of the Black community in 1800s Beacon Hill. The Black Heritage Trail ® showcases residences and community buildings associated with a Black community that thrived on, and near, the north slope of Beacon Hill before, during, and after the American Civil War. Throughout that time, this community organized for equal rights and access to equal education. Community members championed the movement to abolish slavery and even housed freedom seekers on their journey along the Underground Railroad. This tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Register for the tour in advance on eventbrite . It begins at the Massachusetts 54th Regiment across the street from the Massachusetts State House and ends at the Museum of African American History , covering about 1.4 miles. The Black Heritage Trail Tour runs Wednesday through Sunday at 10 am and 1 pm. *In case of weather, Rangers will offer an indoor option in the basement of Faneuil Hall, also known as the "Find Your Park Space."

*UPDATE: The book club meeting for June has been moved to Wednesday, June 24, 2026. All other times and details remain the same, and the author will still attend virtually.* PARKS & PAGES - Details of the Third Meeting of 2026: • DATE: June 24, 2026 • TIME: 6:00 to 7:00 PM EDT • COST: Free • LOCATION: Dyson Room in the Visitor Center at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. • ADDRESS: 4079 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538 • BOOK: "Growing Up Roosevelt" • AUTHOR: Nina Roosevelt Gibson • SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES: Facebook.com/HOFRNHS Join Parks & Pages for a discussion of "Growing Up Roosevelt: A Granddaughter's Memoir of Eleanor Roosevelt" by Nina Roosevelt Gibson. Drawing on her experiences growing up at Val-Kill, Nina shares personal stories of family life, travel, and the many people who passed through Eleanor Roosevelt's home. The memoir offers her unique perspective on Eleanor Roosevelt as a grandmother, mentor, and host while giving a firsthand look at life in Hyde Park during the mid-twentieth century. Nina Roosevelt will join the discussion virtually via Microsoft Teams, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions about the book. All are welcome to join, whether or not they have read it. WHAT IS "PARKS & PAGES"? "Parks & Pages" is a FREE book club meeting hosted by the National Park Service in Hyde Park, NY on the last Thursday of each month through the summer and fall. Each meeting will be hosted by a ranger for the National Historic Sites of Hyde Park, NY. Join us for a study of history through fictional and non-fictional literature related to the lives and careers of the Roosevelt or Vanderbilt family.

The public is invited inside the reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20 th century reconstruction. Entry into the reconstructed fort is limited to the central plaza, except on guided tours. For your safety, respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access into additional areas. Access to the reconstructed fort is restricted due to safety issues stemming from nearly 50 years of use and deficiencies in the 1970s design and construction of the Fort. Park staff conducted stabilization work in the spring of 2025 and continue to monitor the condition of the structure for further change. A water fountain and public restrooms are located at the visitor parking area. The reconstructed fort does not have these services available currently due to safety restrictions.

Take a tour with a Park Ranger to learn more about Bent's Old Fort. Each tour lasts approximately forty-five minutes and begins in the plaza. Tours are limited to fifteen participants and will explore the historic use of the site and the reconstruction of the fort in the 1970s. A water fountain and public restrooms are located at the visitor parking area. The reconstructed fort does not have these services available currently due to safety restrictions.

Costumed demonstrations 2026 program dates: June 5 to August 30- Fridays through Tuesdays September- Saturdays and Sundays Costumed rangers conduct a variety of program offerings that vary from day to day. They include stone cutting, rope making and natural dyes. They are generally held between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the morning and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The programs are weather and staff dependent. For additional information and to find out what program is offered on the day of your visit, please inquire at the visitor center or call 814-886-6150. No reservations are required!

Lemon House Tours 2026 program dates: June 5 to August 30- Fridays through Tuesdays September- Saturdays and Sundays Staff dependent, a park ranger is available from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the morning and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon to greet visitors and answer questions about the tavern and its operations during the days of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. No reservations are required. The Lemon House is open Fridays through Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Travel back in time with a park ranger on a free van tour of the historic route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. This tour follows the entire route of the Portage Railroad from the canal basin in Hollidaysburg to the canal basin in Johnstown. Visitors will learn how this engineering marvel was built and hear the compelling stories of the men and women who built and operated what was the most important route westward from 1834 to 1857. In many places the route will follow the exact path of the old Portage Railroad and will take visitors to the Staple Bend Tunnel. In addition, the tour will take passengers past the Skew Arch Bridge, the reconstruction of Engine House No. 6, the historic Lemon House, and several historic culverts. This free tour begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Visitor Center on select Saturdays throughout the summer. The tour is four hours in length. Space is limited to twelve people and reservations are required. The interior of the van. NPS Photo. The tour takes place in a 15-passenger van. Personal space may be limited depending on the number of participants signed up. Please note that maneuvering on and off the van may be difficult. Accommodations for children under the age of eight cannot be made due to Pennsylvania law. The child safety law states that children eight years of age and under must be in an appropriate booster seat. Please be advised that because we cannot ensure that car seats are properly and safely installed on the vans and/or the bus, we cannot accommodate them on van tours. If a child arrived at the park in a car seat, they must always be in a car seat, while in a motorized vehicle. No allowances will be made for "holding" children while on a van tour. Thank you for your understanding!

The second event in our Freedom 250 commemorative series highlights the experiences of prisoners of war during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. This all-day program in the National Prisoner of War Museum and the Horseshoe will feature living historians, black powder demonstrations, and a special Freedom 250 activity for visitors of all ages.

“Stories from the Borderlands” are featured programs offered monthly. Each will be held at the reconstructed fort and the Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta and last 45 minutes, exploring a different facet of the Fort’s story. As always, visitors should be prepared for the weather. Water, dressing in layers, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Join us for an interactive day honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as we explore the lives of Revolutionary War soldiers and their experiences as prisoners of war.

“Stories from the Borderlands” are featured programs offered monthly. Each will be held at the reconstructed fort and the Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta and last 45 minutes, exploring a different facet of the Fort’s story. As always, visitors should be prepared for the weather. Water, dressing in layers, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

“Stories from the Borderlands” are featured programs offered monthly. Each will be held at the reconstructed fort and the Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta and last 45 minutes, exploring a different facet of the Fort’s story.