I have found that people often tend to ignore
sightseeing in their home area. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, and we
return there each year to see Doctors, and visit family and friends. This year
when we returned, I learned that there was a museum at riverfront. I knew that
Cincinnati was an important hub in the Underground Railroad system. Many houses
in Cincinnati still have underground rooms that connect with tunnels and were
used to help runaway slaves evade the slave hunters. While we were home this
year, we decided to check out this new museum.
Before we do a story on a place, we make contact before we go to the location. In
this case we were fortunate to get in touch with Mr. Paul Bernish, Chief
Communications Officer. Mr. Bernish spent considerable time with us explaining
how the Center came to be. He explained that after ten years of planning and
fundraising, the $110 million Freedom Center opened to the public on
August 3, 2004. Their website http://www.freedomcenter.org
has concise information on the location and parking area nearby. I really was
unsure as to what we would see and how it would be presented. Since we have
traveled so extensively throughout the U.S., I guess I wondered if a museum in
"my home town" could measure up to some of the museums we have seen.
Well, I needn't have worried. Just approaching the outside of the museum, what I
saw was certainly imposing. Upon entering, I found exhibits that presented the
story of the slaves and the people who risked their own freedom and property to
help them escape. Many heroic men and women joined forces with others in a vast
network that helped runaway slaves secure freedom. Three groups of people were
most active in the Underground Railroad efforts in southern Ohio. They were the
Presbyterians, the Quakers, and Free People of Color. These brave people risked
the loss of property, money and imprisonment if caught hiding or helping
fugitives. Some people were caught by Pro-Slavery forces and beaten because of
their commitment to helping runaways to freedom. Since Kentucky was a slave
state and was just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, the escaping slaves
had to get across the Ohio River in order get to freedom. Even after they
managed to cross the river they still had to have help and use caution because the
slave hunters would risk coming into Ohio in order to capture the runaway slaves
and collect the bounty on their heads. One of the most well know stories about a
runaway slaves plight was "Uncle Tom's Cabin" written by Harriet
Beecher Stowe. This book brought the plight of the runaway slave's to the
public's attention.
A focal point of the museum is a 21 X 30 foot, two-story log Slave Pen that was
built in 1830 and used to house slaves being shipped to auction. The structure
was actually moved from a farm in Mason County, KY, and now dominates the
second-floor atrium where visitors encounter it again, and again while visiting
the other exhibits. It can also be seen through the Center's large windows from
the downtown street outside. An original feature of the Slave Pen is a shackle
ring in the second floor joist, used to secure male slaves. I learned that the
pen was originally owned by Captain John Anderson, a Revolutionary War soldier.
Slaves waiting to be transported from Dover, KY, to slave markets in Natchez,
MS, and New Orleans, LA, were imprisoned there for a few days or several months,
waiting for favorable market conditions and higher selling prices. It has eight
small windows, the original stone floor, a large chimney and fireplace, and a
row of wrought iron rings through which a central chain ran, tethering men on
either side of the chain. Males slaves were held on the second floor, while
women remained on the first floor and used the fireplace for cooking. Walking
into this structure had a powerful effect, not only on me, but on most of the
people I saw entering the Pen on the day I was there. Being inside an actual
structure gave me an insight into some of the dehumanization that the slaves
would have had to suffer. There was obviously no privacy available for the
people held here. They were treated as though they were mindless cattle and not
human beings.
Our next stop was the "Suite for Freedom" Theater where they presented
three animated films that addressed the fragile nature of freedom throughout
human history, particularly as related to the Underground Railroad and the
institution of slavery in the United States.
Then we moved on to the "Escape! Freedom Seekers" presentation and
interactive display about the Underground Railroad where school groups and
families with young children are presented with choices on an imaginary escape
attempt. The gallery features information about figures like abolitionist
William Lloyd Garrison, Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman and orator
Frederick Douglass.
"The Struggle Continues, " is an exhibit depicting the ongoing
challenges confronted by African-Americans since the end of slavery, ongoing
struggles for freedom in today's world, and ways that the Underground Railroad
has inspired groups in India, Poland, and South Africa.
The Museum also features The John Park Library which
houses a collection of
multimedia materials about the Underground Railroad and freedom-related issues.
In addition, they have a Family Search Center where visitors can investigate
their own roots.
They constantly keep the museum fresh and interesting by introducing exhibits on
loan from private parties and other museums.
I was impressed not only with the museum itself, but with perseverance of the
human spirit that will not long live with tyranny. And with the bravery of the
people who were willing to risk their own lives to assist these people's
fight.
Laura