Ride Through History, Walk Into the Future: Tours at the E4 Youth Homecoming

On Sunday, October 12, the E4 Youth Homecoming Block Party will give Austin a preview of the WOW Heritage Center, a new cultural landmark dedicated to capturing the entire location-based history of the African Diaspora in Central Texas.

Two immersive tours anchor the celebration:

Bus Tour with Austin Black Tours — A guided journey across the city, tracing Black history from Reconstruction through today. Guests will explore sites of resilience, community, and cultural expression that helped shape Austin’s identity.

Jacob Fontaine AR Scavenger Hunt — A mirrored walking tour where participants meet a 3D avatar of Jacob Fontaine, publisher of one of Texas’s first Black newspapers. At six historic stops, Fontaine shares stories of press freedom, land ownership, housing, education, and entrepreneurship.

Together, these experiences preview the vision of the WOW Heritage Center: a permanent hub where oral histories, youth-led media, and immersive technology bring Austin’s African American history to life.

The tours are part of a full day of music, food, storytelling, and community at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard. Admission is free and open to the public.

RSVP today to be part of this historic celebration and glimpse the future of cultural preservation in Central Texas.