Historic Rock Ford will host a presentation, "Exploring the Traditions and Features of Pennsylvania's Historic African American Burial Grounds," on Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. The program will take place in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn, 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster.

Over the last two decades, the presenter, Steven Burg, has had the opportunity to visit and study many of Pennsylvania's historic African American cemeteries and burial grounds. To date, more than 150 burial grounds have been identified across the state that were created primarily by or for the burial of people of color. These sites represent unique spaces reflecting the culture, traditions, and histories of local African American communities. In his presentation, Burg will explore traditions and features of these African American cemeteries and explain why he believes it is important that these places be documented, appreciated, and preserved.

Burg is a professor of history at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he specializes in public history and historic preservation. He received his bachelor's degree in history from Colgate University and his master's and doctoral degrees in United States history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For more than two decades, he has been researching African American cemeteries and burial grounds across Pennsylvania and working with grassroots organizations to document and preserve those sites. He is currently the secretary of Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds, a statewide organization dedicated to preserving Pennsylvania's African American cemeteries.

Burg's presentation is a complement to Historic Rock Ford's 2024 Focus Exhibit "A Time to Mourn: Death and Mourning in Pennsylvania 1750-1820" in the John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery.

This presentation is free of charge, but space is limited and all guests must register at https://rockford.yapsody.com.

To learn more about Historic Rock Ford, visit http://www.historicrockford.org.