The Bog Tour

Beaconsfield Historic House announced the return of the Bog Tour, an immersive guided walking experience exploring the history of Charlottetown’s Bog neighbourhood. This powerful program honours the legacy of Prince Edward Island’s historical Black community and invites participants to engage with lesser-known stories from the Island’s past. The tour is free to attend.

Beginning at Beaconsfield Historic House, the tour leads visitors through the former site of The Bog, a 19th-century racially integrated neighbourhood, which included free and formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants. Through carefully researched storytelling, the tour brings to life a vibrant community that once stood in contrast to the grandeur of nearby estates.

Visitors will explore locations that highlight the experiences, resilience, and contributions of Bog residents, such as Samuel Martin and Kesiah Sheppard, co-founders of the Bog, or educator Sarah Harvie, who taught for many years at the Bog school.

Enhancements and updates to the tour route and programming are ready for 2026, offering new perspectives and experiences.

“As an Island Studies Scholar who is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history of the African and Black diaspora of PEI, I am extremely excited to support the PEI Museums and Heritage Foundation as they remain committed to their mission of telling diverse Island stories. I’m looking forward to sharing my research into the cultural contributions of our historic Black community in the new Bog tour this season,” says Evelyn Bradley, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusions Consultant for the Foundation.

In July and August, the Bog Tour will be offered from Monday to Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm, and Sundays at 12 pm.

For more information, call 902-368-6600, visit peimuseum.ca, or follow @heritagepei on social media.