Chester County History Center will offer "Plagues and Pestilence" walking tours on Saturdays, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, and Oct. 7. Tours will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

In the early 1800s, West Chester billed itself as an elegant and healthful place, but the reality was very different. Words like cholera, diphtheria, rabies, and smallpox struck fear into the heart of every resident, especially those with small children. Treatments were almost worse than the diseases: Bloodletting, blistering, and mercury were all part of the early medicinal arsenal. The walking tour will explore how diseases impacted families, how they changed burial practices, and how the borough's medical and scientific minds worked to combat death.

This walking tour will last approximately 90 minutes and cover 1.5 miles. Participants should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to check in at the center at 225 N. High St., West Chester. Although attendees will stay predominantly on sidewalks, the terrain may be uneven in places. Subject matter may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

There is a fee. History center members may obtain a discount code.

To sign up, search for "Plagues and Pestilence: A Walking Tour" at http://www.eventbrite.com.