The Young Preservationists Association will unveil a printed guide of African-American heritage sites in southwestern Pennsylvania at a free public reception at the August Wilson Center at 4 p.m. today.

The YPA will distribute the first 5,000 guides to schools and print more if demand warrants it, said Dan Holland, founder and CEO of the association.

Called "Discover the Legacy: The African American Experience in Southwestern Pennsylvania," the guide features 104 sites in nine counties, from jazz venues to stops in the Underground Railroad network that helped former slaves find freedom.

The guide is meant to encourage heritage tourism, promote preservation of historic sites and to serve as a reference for existing historical markers, said Mr. Holland.

YPA received support from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the The Poise Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

More information is available on YPA's website, www.youngpreservationists.org.

To request a copy, write to youngpreservationist@gmail.com.

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