DIY TOURS

EXPLORE

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA DO-IT-YOURSELF TOURS

Do something diff erent while in town and take a self-guided tour of our area! From murals to lighthouses, heritage trails and more, experience awesome is right around the corner! Details are also available at www.VisitErie.com/explore.

“Blue Sky” sculpture – Downtown Erie Erie Food Tours

TOURS ON THE

‘Hello Erie’ App:

You can download the FREE

‘Hello Erie’ trip planner app from iTunes or Google Play. Once downloaded, open up the app and click on Tours. You can also download the app by using this QR code.

African American Heritage Trail Tour (with audio!)

Access this self-guided audio-narrated tour through VisitErie’s ‘Hello Erie’ trip planner app and features historic points of interest, public art, and businesses that pay tribute to Erie’s African American heritage, including the church where internationally celebrated soloist and composer Harry T. Burleigh sang in the choir. Burleigh’s achievements include adapting African American spirituals into his own compositions. Another stop, New Jerusalem, is one of Erie’s oldest neighborhoods. Here African American families provided much-needed refuge for men and women fl eeing enslavement through the Underground Railroad. The tour also includes several murals paying tribute to Erie’s African American heritage.

Murals of Erie County Self-Guided Tour

Take a self-guided tour of Erie’s Mural Arts! Explore over 80 murals located throughout Erie County. Explore by yourself or with family and friends. Make it an adventure in the pursuit of great art! Be inspired by the creativity of our local muralists and residents. Most of the murals are located outside, however, there are a few located inside buildings (specifi cs can be found in the mural descriptions). The majority of murals are not artifi cially lit, therefore we recommend viewing them during daylight hours.

Erie Lighthouses

Visit the Presque Isle Lighthouse and Erie Land Lighthouse to take in breathtaking views from the top of each tower while learning about Erie’s rich maritime history. The Erie Land Lighthouse opened to the public for the fi rst time in the historic site’s history on May 22, 2021. The Land Lighthouse is located at the foot of Lighthouse Street on the east side of Erie. The Presque Isle Lighthouse at Presque Isle State Park near beach 9 is open for tours Memorial Day to Labor Day. Experience panoramic views of Lake Erie, Presque Isle, and the North Pier Lighthouse, and learn about their history and function. To view another Erie light, just walk out along the north pier at Presque Isle (just past the entrance to the Coast Guard Station) and view the North Pier Light.

Pennsylvania Historical Markers of Erie County Tour

Did you know Erie County is home to over 50 historical markers? Each marker is dedicated to either a person, place or event that has had a historical signifi cance to our community on a state, regional and even national level. Travel throughout the City of Erie and surrounding towns of Union City, Corry, Edinboro, Girard, Waterford and others to discover such markers honoring the Erie Extension Canal, Fort LeBoeuf, Harry Kellar, Perry’s Shipyards and Miracles on Maple Hill. Also included in the list are missing markers and their signifi cance along with GPS coordinates for every stop on this list. All historical marker information was compiled/contributed by Bethany DeMuth, Erie Times News.

Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk

Erie Arts & Culture assisted the Erie Downtown Development Corporation to create the fi rst-ever Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk, a year-round outdoor exhibition of art. The Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk features 15 sculptures in Downtown Erie and the Bayfront, representing the work of 13 diff erent artists from throughout the United States. The inaugural set of sculptures are on display through August 2023. As you participate in the Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk, Erie Arts & Culture encourages you to think critically about public art. The questions encourage you to refl ect on will assist you in moving beyond immediate responses such as “I like/don’t like it” and “I don’t get it.” For more information go to https://www.erieartsandculture.org/ assets/critical-thinking-questions.pdf

Presque Isle Lighthouse

Additional TOURS

Other Tours on VisitErie.com and the ‘Hello Erie’ trip planner app: • Underground Railroad Bike Route, from Adventure Cycling

Association. A 1,997-mile bicycle route from Mobile, Alabama to

Owen Sound, Ontario passing through Erie County. • Gems of The City, a walking tour of historic (lower) Downtown

Erie (Dickson House, Hamot House, Captain John Richard’s

House, St. Patrick’s Church and more) • West Bayfront Walking Tour which includes the Bicentennial

Tower, Dobbins Landing, West Canal Basin and more. • 10 Energizing Outdoor Adventures and 15 Hiking/Biking Trails around Erie County • Get Your Grape On in Lake Erie Wine Country • Home Port Erie Driving Tour

“Flotsam” mural at Bicentennial Tower