Presented by the Erie County Public Library, HistERIE week is a week-long celebration of history in Erie County with tours, talks, and virtual events! Our West Bayfront is proud to partner with the Erie County Public Library to co-host walking and biking tours that highlight the unique history of the West Bayfront.

In partnership with WQLN, join Johnny Johnson for a walking tour of African American history in the West Bayfront on Saturday, June 10 from 3 to 4pm at the Hagen History Center, located at 356 West 6th Street. Following the tour, we invite you to enjoy a free screening of WQLN’s Iconic America. After the screening, we will host an informal oral-history discussion about participants’ experiences and stories of the West Bayfront and Erie County. Johnny Johnson, a native of Covington, GA, has been a resident of Erie for 48 years and has spent 341/2 years in the Erie Public Schools, teaching Health and Physical Education at various Middle and High Schools and served as a coach for many athletic teams and advisor for many clubs. In addition to his involvement with the schools, he has been instrumental in preserving and sharing African American history in Erie County. This includes serving as Chairperson for the Ethnic Erie African American Exhibit sponsored and hosted by the Erie History Center, being instrumental in getting the baseball field at Bayview Park named after the all-black baseball team the Erie Pontiacs, recognizing historical streets as “Harry T. Burleigh Way” and “The Lawrence Family Way” and the “Rev, Charles Kennedy Way,” and a founding member of the Harry T. Burleigh society. His extensive and impressive resume goes far beyond this, and we are honored to have him lead a walk again!

Let us know you’ll be there by registering here.