The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is an absolute must-see for any visitor to Cincinnati, which was one of the major hubs of abolitionist activity.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is an absolute must-see for any visitor to Cincinnati, which was one of the major hubs of abolitionist activity. The Center houses many poignant exhibits, including the Slave Pen, an authentic log pen used as a warehouse to store slaves before being moved south for sale. The exhibit also contains the business papers of the pen's owner, slave trader John W. Anderson, whose documents include his appraisal of the slave market, details of his investments, and a description of the difficulties of gathering, holding, transporting, and selling slaves.
Visitors can also watch the remarkable film Brothers of the Borderland, the story of one woman's escape from slavery and two of the prominent conductors of the Underground Railroad, John Parker and Rev. John Rankin. From Slavery to Freedom details the history of slaves from their arrival in the New World through the Civil War, while the Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad exhibit offers families an interactive learning experience that uses storytelling, role-playing, and hands-on activities to present the history of slavery and escape.
