National Underground Railroad Freedom Center...MLK Day Trip

Found a reminder on FaceBook from  365 Cincinnati  that the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is open to the public...FREE...on MLK Day.

Michael and I decided that once Cassie and her crew were on the way back home, we would drive downtown to the National Underground Freedom Center because PNC was graciously opening the doors so we could go free! That's my kind of bargain! I have always wanted to go but never made the time. I wish I hadn't waited so long. We really have been missing a true gem in downtown Cincinnati. The Center is easy to get to from our side of town and there is a parking garage that is well lit and well marked so we had no trouble at all...I know my children, it is hard to believe that we made it in one piece.

50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH

The main entrance is on the river side of the building which really makes more sense to me now that I realize how much of an important part the Ohio River played in the journey to Canada/Freedom for so many.

This 13 starred flag was the first thing that caught our eye.  It was hanging opposite the elevators and in front of the gift shop.

I email the Freedom Center and asked about the flag because Michael and I could not remember anything about it.  This is the email that I received...

Dear Ms. Ellis, 

Thank you for coming to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The 13 star flag in our care is one of only two known examples of the Fort Independence design. It was found in an attic in Boston after the house was purchased by a Mooney family member in 1902. The sewing and construction is consistent with professional (military) flag making of the 18th century. During the early years of our nation, there was not a set design for the stars or a standard for how many points would be on each star. For this reason, researchers have found a variety of designs during that time period. The rest of the design - alternating of red and white with the blue canton (background) had the same symbolism then that we recognize today. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy. The stars represent the newly formed states. And, the blue background represents the union as a whole. The blue rectangle with stars is sometimes recognized as a "new constellation." Finally, though I have not confirmed it recently, the colors have been recognized in the following way: red - hardiness and valour, white - innocence and purity, and blue - vigilance, perseverance, and justice. 

I hope that this brief description inspires you to more in-depth research of the American flag and its evolution! 

Warm regards, 

Dina Bailey
Director of Exhibitions and Collections
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
50 East Freedom Way
Cincinnati, OH 4520

There is so much to do and so much to see.  It was hard for me to take pics, keep track of Michael, read all the info and just breath in the feeling of the center.  There were guided tours but we opted to use the free App on my phone for a self guided tour.  The blue shirted staff were easy to pick out and they were very helpful and knowledgeable .

The prayer above stand right outside the log cabin...The Slave Pen.  This is where up to 75 slaves were held by the slave owner.

There were two floors.  The woman 12-20 years old were kept on the bottom floor while the men were chained to this ring on the second floor.  Up to 75 people were jammed into this slave pen.

I was most impressed with the giant wall hangings.  The story behind them is more than incredible!  It is called the RagGonNon created by Ohio native, Aminah Brenda Lynne Robinson from Columbus.  It is the first thing you see as you top the stairs on the second floor.  It took her over 35 years to find and sew the materials together.  Lots of small panels joined together however she could join them.  Each telling a story.

Journey 1...the left tapestry, Africa to North America.  Between the two is a monster...a slave ship...this area is called the Middle Passage.  She portrays people jumping into the sea because the journey was so horrible.  She shows how men and women are packed tightly in the ship.  There is a panel that shows human beings being sold as property once they hit land here.  There are puffy floating faces.  They are the slaves that are making the journey on the Underground Railroad.  So much detail I want to go back and just sit with my camera and capture each panel.  Then I want to learn about each one.  Very moving.

Michael was our map reader and tour guide.  I love that App!  He enjoyed being able to lead the way.  He likes history just about as much as Mark does.  And he can't wait until we can come back and bring Mark with us.

This mural is so powerful just to look at and then when you hear what it depicts...it is even more moving.  The story is so special.  Artist Tom Fielding was commissioned by the Freedom Center to show us the two phases of slave trade.  Just after he agreed, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  This was his final project.  Knowing he might not be able to finish the project he asked a friend,  Tyrone Geeter,  to finish the mural.  The journey begins in Africa.  On the left there is a slave ship....African slave trade.  Over ten million were forced into slavery.  The right side depicts the internal slave trade...slave auctions...a baby being torn from her mother's arms.  An new life, a life of slavery.  The backbreaking work in the field done by men and women.

Everywhere you looked there was history, stories to be read and lots of information to be learned.  We couldn't get enough of it.  I was thrilled to realize that Michael knew some of the stories and could recognize some of the faces.

I think this had to be one of the strangest stories that we heard that day...Henry "Box" Brown.  How far would you go for freedom?  He was a slave in VA.  His family was taken away and he was all alone.  He got fed up with being a slave and decided to put his 6'5" tall, 200 pound body in a box and had a friend mail him to an antislavery group in Philadelphia...27 hours in a box....but at the end of his journey he was a free man. 

"President" of the Underground railroad, Levi Coffin.  A business man who transported salves in a false bottom of his wagon.  A devout Quaker gave 2,000 people rides in his wagon...rides to freedom.

The Eternal Freedom Flame..a flame that stands for the fire burning in every human heart...the desire for perfect freedom.  

The Eternal Flame was the only display that we were able to see on the third floor because we simply ran out of time.  We plan to go back soon so we can learn more about the cost of freedom.