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A tour guide explains the history of Quantrill's Raid during a previous local history event. The 2019 Civil War on the Western Frontier schedule includes walking, bus and bike tours of historic sites.

History buffs can enjoy tours, reenactments, 19th-century music and more during this weekend’s Civil War on the Western Frontier events, organized by the Watkins Museum of History.

As in previous years, the museum will be offering walking tours and bus tours that highlight historic sites — two of them tell the story of William Quantrill’s Aug. 21, 1863, raid on Lawrence and the city’s subsequent rebuilding, while others focus on the Underground Railroad, notable 19th-century Lawrence women, and daily life in the city during the 1800s.

But this year, for the first time, the museum will also be offering a bike tour of the Burroughs Creek Trail on Saturday that concludes with a visit to Free State Brewing Company’s bottling facility, said Will Hickox, public engagement coordinator at Watkins Museum of History. Beer from Free State is included in the cost of the tour.

Each of the Watkins’ tours costs $15 for members of the Douglas County Historical Society and $30 for nonmembers, and tickets can be purchased on the Watkins Museum’s website.

Also on the schedule is a tour of Oak Hill Cemetery on Friday night. That tour costs $18; go to the Lawrence Parks and Recreation website to register.

For those looking to immerse themselves in local history, reenactors will set up a Civil War-style military encampment in South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St., from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. There is no charge to visit the encampment.

From 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, there will be a memorial service at the Watkins Museum, 1047 Massachusetts St., for the victims of Quantrill’s raid. During the service, several city leaders, including Mayor Lisa Larsen, will read the names of the 166 individuals who were killed during the raid, Hickox said.

And at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., historian and author Tom Rafiner will give a keynote address about the aftermath of the raid. That will be followed by a performance of Civil War-era songs by the Lawrence Opera Theatre. Both events are free.

A full schedule of events is available on the Watkins Museum’s website.

Gospel legend to speak at Liberty Hall

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Gospel legend Mavis Staples will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St.

Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples will share stories from her career next week as part of the Lawrence Public Library’s 780s Storytelling Series, which brings prominent musicians to speak in Lawrence.

Staples will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required.

Staples is a Grammy winner and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during her six-decade career in the music industry. She was originally scheduled to speak in Lawrence in April 2018, but she had to cancel her visit because of the death of her sister, Yvonne.

Local author’s book launch

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Lawrence author Bryn Greenwood will be releasing her new novel, “The Reckless Oath We Made,” on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019.

Lawrence author Bryn Greenwood will be launching her new novel, “The Reckless Oath We Made,” next week at The Raven Book Store.

The novel, whose main character has a shattered hip and is desperate to pay her bills, was partly inspired by Greenwood’s own struggles with chronic hip pain, the author told the Journal-World.

Greenwood will be reading from her novel and signing copies at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Raven, 6 E. Seventh St.