Cholera, typhoid, smallpox, rabies and diphtheria all tore through West Chester in the early 1800s. Starting Sept. 2, the Chester County History Center will guide small groups past the downtown sites where those outbreaks left their mark.
The new "Plagues and Pestilence: A Walking Tour" runs on Sept. 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19 and 23, covering 1.5 miles of borough sidewalks over roughly 90 to 100 minutes. Tickets are $16 per person, with CCHC members receiving a 20% discount.
Groups are small and likely to sell out.
The tour traces how disease reshaped daily life for borough families, altered burial practices and drove West Chester's early physicians to fight back against what the CCHC event listing calls "the King of All Fears." The borough marketed itself as "an elegant and healthful place" in that era, but residents faced a grim medical arsenal: bloodletting, blistering and mercury were standard treatments.
Jennifer Green, the History Center's director of education, and tour guide Erica Imparato have led CCHC's downtown walking tours, which drew 1,555 participants in a prior year. The Daily Local News reported Aug. 12 that the Plagues and Pestilence series follows the organization's summer "Revolutionary West Chester" tour and precedes October's "Chilling West Chester" dark-history series.
The 2026 route differs from last year's inaugural version, covering different diseases and different streets. Returning attendees will encounter new content, according to the listing.
The tour runs rain or shine on predominantly flat sidewalks, though terrain may be uneven in spots. Service dogs are welcome; pets are not permitted. The subject matter may not be suitable for younger children. Organizers ask participants to arrive 10 minutes early to check in.
Tickets are available at the Chester County History Center, 225 N. High St., West Chester, or online. For information, call 610-692-4800 or visit mycchc.org.
Coming up in downtown West Chester:
- Sept. 2–23: Plagues and Pestilence walking tours (seven dates), Chester County History Center, $16/person
- October: Chilling West Chester: A Dark History Walking Tour, dates TBA
