African American Sites Walking Tour

This tour provides glimpses of centuries of African American heritage in the City of Frederick and presents a new opportunity to experience the past.

In 1860, free African Americans made up more than 1/5 of Frederick City's population of 8,000 people. Many of these city residents found employment as skilled laborers at the industrial businesses - tanneries, foundries, and brickyards along Carroll Creek. They established homes just south of the creek along All Saints Street, which became the hub of Black life in Downtown Frederick. On this street, it is easy to imagine the daily bustle of what were once segregated business in the 19th and early 20th century centuries. You can still hear the strains of smooth jazz tunes and harmonies of gospel hymns rising from nearby churches and social halls. Find inspiration from the amazing faith and fortitude of our African American forbears. 

Frederick's AARCH Society leads guided walking tours of Downtown Frederick. The walking tours highlight the community's rich history and culture in the late 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on the men and women who made change and strove for equality. Explore the wider African American story in Frederick County as well at sites like Museum of the Ironworker, Monocacy National Battlefield, and on a self-guided driving tour