National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

This weekend I had the privilege of visiting the National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The mission of the Center as stated on their web page is:
We reveal stories about freedom's heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.

When you are on the upper floors of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, you can see the Ohio River and the Roebling Suspension Bridge over the river. During the 1800's the Ohio River was the boundary between the free state of Ohio and the slave holding state of Kentucky.















Many fugitive slaves made their way across the Ohio River before then heading North to find their freedom in Canada. Many freedom seekers passed through Sandusky and then across Lake Erie via the Underground Railroad.

















The Family Search Center is located on the fourth floor of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where volunteers help people learn about their family history in the John Parker Library. The Center is free with admission to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. You can find helpful genealogy tips by visiting the Center's web site. Available there are:

• Tips on Getting Started in Family History

• Tips on Collecting Oral History

and a

• Basic Family Tree can be downloaded.

A chart displaying Alex Haley's Family Tree can be seen at the Family Search Center.