Some of you are familiar with the fact that I return to Cincinnati in June. When I go, after a day’s work, I take a walk from my hotel to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in the evening. Sometimes they are open in the evening, sometimes not. If they aren’t open one can see the Ohio River and the banks of Kentucky on the other side. You can imagine how slaves crossed the river and made it to Ohio, to the very bank you are standing. When it is open — there is so much to take in and you must be prepared to stay several hours or until they close.
The stories inside this museum are fascinating. The docents are not professional actors, but actors just the same captivating the visitors who pass through the galleries. One docent I met was a former NYPD officer who took time to serve the museum one summer I was there. He was eloquent, knowledgeable and absorbing. Other docents, teachers and professionals in the city of Cincinnati, acted out in period dress the stories of many slaves in first person.
The museum requires more than just one visit to take in so much detail. In the gift shop, I inquired as to whether there was a book compiling all the curated displays. Their response was no, there wasn’t such a book. “As it should be,” I thought to myself, as visitors need to experience all these stories, study the immense maps of Africa and the slave trade to the US, study the scene painted in a magnificent painting that documents the negotiation of slaves. They must walk in the reconstructed cabin that housed slaves. They must see the artifacts – photographs, bills of sale, clothing, household items, tools and chains.
In 1964 Jane Burch Cochran was one of 10,000 people who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in support of civil rights. Decades later in 2004 and after nine months of daily work she completed this magnificent quilt below. I first saw this quilt in the Freedom Center. Upon subsequent visits I noticed it had been moved to the Duke Energy Center.
“Crossing into Freedom” Duke Energy Center, 2012, by Jane Burch Cochran
Signature: Jane Burch Cochran
sounds like an awesome place. beautiful quilt.
Yes, it is on both counts.
Sounds like a fascinating place. I am watching The Abolitionists on PBS – a fascinating series with reality checks on the horrors of slavery. Worthwhile if you haven’t seen it yet.
Thank you for the lead. PBS always has something to follow.
I would love to go there sometime & would love for there to have been a book written. Thank you for sharing your experience, Georgette … fascinating.
Thank you for reading. I got invited back last Thursday, so yes, the Freedom Center and Cincinnati are on my mind. There are so many stories there and the fact that the docents change, and their stories vary, make this truly a “living museum.” btw Thank you for the info.
It sounds fascinating, Georgette. I would love to visit some day!
Cincinnati is truly the Queen City in many respects. Great gems in that tiara. Thanks for reading.
One of the places that’s on our to see list if we get back to Cincy. Thanks for reminding me!
It’s worth the trip just to meet the talented, committed and very knowledgeable docents. I’ll be back this June.
Can’t wait.
Fascinating, G! Thanks for sharing this piece of little-known history–to me, at any rate!
The museum is a must visit. It’s very humbling and sobering all the history contained within its walls on each floor.
The quilt: Buttons, bugle beads, and gloves not to mention fabrics embellish this quilt. It’s beautiful, I think.
Fascinating, I would love to experience that. Lovely quilt, too.
There is so much detail. At the Freedom Center it was at eye level. Now it’s way up high probably because it’s not in a museum environment, but in a convention center.
I never knew about this museum, Georgette, and now I have a reason to go to Cincinnati. Thanks for sharing! Love the photos.
It’s walking distance from the downtown hotels.
Great post … and just another reminder how I have to get there!
Yes, plan on it. Growing up in the space industry, we made it to the Cape and JSC in Houston.
I understand that they passed along the secrets of how to find the underground connections and trails through their quilts. It is just amazing. I’m so glad you got to experience this and shared it with us.
Thank you for sharing that. Fascinating information.
You and your mother have been in my thoughts.
Congratulations on being invited back Georgette
I’ve never been to Cincinnati – I’m happy to see it through your travels.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum I’d really like to visit.
There’s so much detail in the quilt. Wow! A few years ago we saw an exhibition of quilts made by women in Gee’s Bend, Mississippi (I think). When the clothes were too threadbare to wear they made them into quilts. Some of the quilts had been on the beds over 100years. It was one of the best exhiibitions I’ve ever seen
This form of folk art is so absorbing to “read.” You have to find a seat across from the piece and then your eye travels all over it. This one piece even has a child’s shirt.
That is an amazing place. What caught my eye was the beautiful quilt which I bet inspired so many. A lovely way to appreciate freedom and the people who fought for it. Thanks. Have a blessed day my friend.
There are more, but I only focused on this one. Remember I mentioned a while back the quilt convention in the fall at the George R. Brown? Note to self to go there this year.
I would love to visit this museum one day. Thanks for the glimpse!
It’s a fascinating place!