The rich history of Christiana will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10 and 11, as the Christiana Historical Society presents Christiana Heritage Days. Events that will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 10 will include wagon tours of Christiana, an appearance by Civil War re-enactors, food trucks and children's activities. The celebration will continue on Sept. 11 with a worship service followed by a picnic lunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

New this year is that most activities will take place on the grounds of the William P. Brinton House, 17 Green St., Christiana, which the society acquired as its headquarters in April. The building was once owned by the Brinton family members, who were stationmasters on the Underground Railroad.

According to Darlene Colón, society president, the annual event is designed to highlight the Christiana Resistance, a slave rebellion that took place in Christiana on Sept. 11, 1851, when a slave owner came from Maryland to retrieve what he deemed to be his property. The black community took a stand and refused his demands. With the black residents receiving help from their Quaker neighbors, a confrontation ensued which ended with the death of the slave owner. About 40 people - both black and Quaker - were arrested and held for trial on the charge of treason. A team of lawyers, led by Congressman Thaddeus Stevens of Lancaster, came to their defense and won.

On hand during the event will be members of the Thaddeus Stevens Society, as well as students from the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster who are helping to restore the Brinton House.

"We will also have first-person interpreters who will stroll through town known as the Pennsylvania Past Players," said Colón. "They will portray stationmasters and conductors on the Underground Railroad. There will also be Victorian-era games for kids to play."

Wagon tours of the borough will also be offered for a fee. Costumed tour guides will provide information about each site on the tour.

There will be a family-oriented, walkable scavenger hunt, as well as book signings by authors Harry Kendall and Joel Moore.

Colón, who is a descendant of one of the participants in the Resistance, will be at the Underground Railroad Museum, 11 Green St. Once known as Zercher's Hotel, the building was used to hold those who were arrested during the Resistance while they awaited transport to Philadelphia for trial.

An exhibit of historical postcards from the Lancaster County Postcard Club will be located in the Christiana Masonic Lodge, 115 E. Slokom Ave. Christiana Borough Hall, 10 W. Slokom Ave.; the Christiana Freight Station, 10 Railroad Ave.; and the Moores Memorial Library, 9 W. Slokom Ave., will all be open with historical exhibits.

Food vendors will include an Amish food truck, which will offer breakfast and lunch; SoulCountry Vegan; Randy Yoder preparing chicken; and Brinson's Barbeque.

For more information about Christiana Heritage Days, search for "The Christiana Historical Society" on Facebook or email Colón at Quamony@aol.com.