An exhibit focusing on Illinois’ Underground Railroad has opened at the Vermilion County Museum in Danville. It tells the stories of some of the thousands of enslaved African Americans who were assisted in the 19th century to reach freedom in the northern United States and Canada.
Museum Director Sue Richter says the exhibit describes the journey to freedom….
{AUDIO: “It talks about it from the way of people that were traveling it, people that were conductors on it, people that were workers on it, and things of that sort. So, it kind of gives an all-round picture of what was going on during that time frame. Actually, starting earlier than what most people realize. Not just with the Civil War, but a lot earlier.”}
Richter noted there is also a local tie to the Underground Railroad…
{AUDIO: “Abraham Smith, who was a Quaker from the Ridge Farm area, who actually ran an active station – if you want to call it that – on the Underground Railroad coming up this side of the state of Illinois. And actually (he) was one of the few individuals that advertised that he did so.”}
The Underground Railroad exhibit will be on display at the Vermilion County Museum until March 28th. It is part of the observance of Vermilion County’s 200th birthday celebration….
{AUDIO: “We thought this was a good way to kick it off, to have the exhibit come in from Looking for Lincoln. And to be able to use it to kind-of showcase that early part of the county history. And as well as what was going on in the state, and what was going on in the nation at that time.}
Vermilion County’s Bicentennial is Sunday, January 18th, but there will be special events all year long to celebrate it.
