News
Award-winning author Percival Everett visits the Freedom Center March 29
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center and Joseph-Beth Booksellers bring award-winning author to Cincinnati March 29 Percival Everett reimagines Huck Finn's Jim in newest novel James CINCINNATI – Readers will soon get a new perspective on an American literary classic. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, in partnership withJoseph-Beth Booksellers, is hosting award-winning author Percival Everett for a closer
Freedom Center voted #2 history museum in the country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.orgMuseum recognized as top three museum in USA TODAY vote for fourth year in a row CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center faced off against 20 other museums across the country for the title of Best History Museum in the country. Over a four-week nationwide vote, the nationally-accredited museum garnered the second-most votes in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards. This was the
Cincinnati Museum Center twice recognized among nation's best museums
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@cincymuseum.org Cincinnati History Museum recognized among best in the country Children's Museum also named in top five nationwide in USA TODAY vote CINCINNATI – Two of Cincinnati Museum Center’s (CMC) museums have been recognized among the best in the country. Following a four-week nationwide vote, the Cincinnati History Museum was named one of the top three in the Best History Museum category, while
Freedom Center launches Yoga in the Grand Hall March 10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org WHAT: The Freedom Center is helping you find your zen with its new Yoga in the Grand Hall program. On the second Sunday each month, the Freedom Center is inviting you to practice yoga in its gorgeous Grand Hall, offering a morning of mindfulness and reflection in a space designed for just that. Led by certified yoga instructor Adrienne Daniels, Yoga in the Grand Hall is perfect for first-time and
Harriet Tubman stands as The Beacon of Hope in 11-foot statue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Bronze 11-foot statue on display for a limited time starting March 4 CINCINNATI – Guests to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will soon be greeted by an 11-foot statue of one of history’s greatest heroes. Harriet Tubman, famous as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, is being enshrined in a bronze statue titled The Beacon of Hope, which will be installed outside the Freedom Center on
Free Museum Admission for fourth graders; part of statewide program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@cincymuseum.org Part of statewide program launched by America 250-Ohio; available through 2026 CINCINNATI – Fourth graders across Ohio will soon be able to visit Cincinnati Museum Center, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and other museums free of charge. The Fourth Grade History pass, unveiled today, is a new program for fourth grade students across the state, giving them exclusive access to select
Black History Month programming kicks off Feb. 2 at the Freedom Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.orgFreedom Center celebrates Black History Month Programs including film screenings, roundtables and moderated discussions show Black history is American history CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is celebrating Black History Month with a robust schedule of programming that includes film screenings, an educator workshop and a discussion on voter advocacy. “Black History Month is
Vote the Freedom Center #1 History Museum in the Country!
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has been nominated for Best History Museum in the country! Voting is open from now until February 12th We are excited to announce that the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has once again been nominated for "Best History Museum" in the country by USA Today’s 10Best! After winning the title of "Best History Museum" last year, we're excited to be nominated again and take this opportunity to bring our mission and resources into a national
Freedom Center nominated one of best history museums in the country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center again nominated one of nation's top history museumFreedom Center won in 2023; vote online through February 12 to put the Freedom Center back on top CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is in the running for the nation’s best history museum for the fourth year in a row. USA TODAY’s 10Best recently released their list of nominees for the nation’s 10 Best History
Freedom Center seeking object donations to expand collections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center seeking object donations to expand collections Public opportunity to donate historic and contemporary material as part of museum collections expansion CINCINNATI – Your grandfather’s personal letters, great aunt’s diary or family scrapbook could help expand our shared national history. Spurred by a recent grant to expand its collections storage and preservation space, the National
Freedom Center adds six new board members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Robert W. Jones, Robert W. McDonald, Roy A. Mitchell, Michael Moore, Jaia Thomas, Meggan E. Thompson join board; Kenneth B. Robinson re-elected chair CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center elected six new members to its Board of Directors, expanding its board talent and geographic reach. Current board chair Kenneth B. Robinson was re-elected to serve in the role an additional
Freedom Center strikes first Harriet Tubman commemorative coin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center helps strike first Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Coins celebrating freedom hero will help fund Freedom Center; pre-sale starts January 4 PHILADELPHIA – Leaders from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center participated in a ceremony at the United States Mint to strike the first Harriet Tubman commemorative coins. The series of three coins celebrating the iconic Underground
Freedom Center announces 2024 King Legacy Celebration keynote speaker
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Obama Foundation executive Dr. Adren Wilson to keynote with Adrian Dunn and The Adrian Dunn Singers performing; tickets available now CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced that Obama Foundation executive Dr. Adren Wilson will keynote its 2024 King Legacy Celebration. The annual celebration of the life and leadership of civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cincinnati communities unite for ''Good Troublemakers''
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.orgSeventeen organizations commemorate 1963 Cincinnati civil rights march CINCINNATI – In honor of the 60th anniversary of Cincinnati's March and Vote for Freedom, 17 local organizations are coming together to promote "Good Troublemakers," an evening to honor the common fight for civil rights and to pledge to uphold those tenets today. "Good Troublemakers" will be held October 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the
Freedom Center secures $500,000 national grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.orgHistoric Preservation Fund grant will support expansion of museum's collections space CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center was recently awarded a substantial grant to support its collection and preservation of stories and artifacts critical to our shared American experience. The grant totals half-a-million dollars ($500,000) from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by
Freedom Center celebrates International Underground Railroad Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center celebrates International Underground Railroad Month Film, author lecture and more celebrate the enduring legacy of the Underground Railroad CINCINNATI – September is International Underground Railroad Month in Ohio and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is hosting multiple events to mark the occasion. The museum is offering free admission on September 10, as well as poetry
Freedom Center statement reflects on the 1963 March on Washington
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center reflection on the 60th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom August 28, 2023 Today, we continue to dream. Today, we celebrate the monumental 1963 demonstration of shared humanity in pursuit of the coveted liberty and justice for all promised by our Constitution. A promise denied to people of color in this country for centuries. Sixty years ago, Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in the shadow of the Great
Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin designs revealed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center, U.S. Mint, Harriet Tubman home reveal commemorative coin designs Three coins will honor heroic champion of freedom; available in 2024 CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center joined the United States Mint and the Harriet Tubman Home Sunday for the reveal of the designs for three commemorative coins in honor of Harriet Tubman. The reveal took place during the African
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center statement on the Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action
Yesterday’s Supreme Court landmark decisions regarding affirmative action, making it unlawful for colleges and universities to take race into consideration as a specific basis for granting admission and overturning longstanding precedent that has benefited Black and Latino students in higher education, are a setback in our quest for equity and a blow to the legacy and progress of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The decisions clearly reflect a super-majority conservative wing of the Supreme Court
Freedom Center hosting Truth & Healing Artist Showcase starting July 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@nurfc.org Freedom Center exhibition shares artists' truths and encourages healing Truth & Healing Artist Showcase opens July 14, in partnership with ArtsWave CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is once again partnering with ArtsWave to give Black and Brown artists a platform to share their truth and encourage healing. The Truth & Healing Artist Showcase will feature the work of five artists
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center statement on the Supreme Court's defense of voting rights
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center applauds the United States Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Alabama’s discriminatory and illegal congressional map. The gerrymandered map in question was a clear and direct effort to disenfranchise Black voters – a battle this nation has been fighting since Black Americans were first granted the right to vote in 1870 (though Black women would wait another 50 years for their right). This is a victory for voting rights, and, importantly, a defense of