The exhibition of the “Beacon of Hope” monument at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad
Heritage Center commemorates Harriet Tubman’s journeys to freedom through Niagara Falls
via the International Suspension Bridge – originally located mere steps away from the Heritage
Center and the current location of “Beacon of Hope”.
Born Araminta Ross, Tubman first liberated herself in 1849 by way of Philadelphia. Not even a
year later, she would return to Dorchester County, Maryland, to assist many of her family
members in their own escapes. She would eventually repeat this journey a dozen more times.
After the passage of the 1850s Fugitive Slave Act, Tubman knew that for her family to be
completely safe, they would have to make it to Canada. Her goal was St. Catharines, Ontario, by
way of Niagara Falls, New York. The International Suspension Bridge that Tubman crossed,
bringing dozens of people that she loved into freedom and directing many freedom seekers to, is
one of the most important locations on the Underground Railroad.
This monument reflects the interpretation of the Heritage Center’s award winning exhibits and
its commitment to stories of self-agency rooted in freedom, justice and cultural movements. The
Heritage Center is thankful to the artist for sharing his gift with our city and with visitors from
around the world. Visitors can visit “Beacon of Hope” during daytime hours in the Harriet
Tubman Plaza located in front of the Heritage Center, 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls,
NY 14305.
Together, “Beacon of Hope” and the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
commemorate Tubman’s vision, her grit, and her indomitable will that led her to bring so many
people to the promised land. A special evening commemorating Harriet Tubman and the
monument’s display will be held on Friday, November 15th, 2024, at the Heritage Center
from 5pm-8pm, commemorating Tubman’s and other freedom seekers’ journeys in the late
autumn and winter months of November and December. Details can be found on the Heritage
Center’s website: niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org.
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center Sets Black History Month Events
(NIAGARA FALLS, NY) — As part of the commitment to preserving and promoting the legacy of and bringing visibility to Black stories in Niagara Falls, there are several events and programs slated in February to celebrate Black History Month.
This year’s theme is “Illuminating Voices: Connecting the Past to the Present.” In February, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center will honor Black History Month by celebrating the rich history of people of African descent in Western New York by connecting historical events to modern social issues.
The Heritage Center offers this kind of programming year-round, so to enhance it during Black History Month, there is a wide variety of virtual, in-person and hybrid programs planned to reach audiences across Western New York and beyond. Programming includes youth workshops, musical performances, the continued speaker series, and the grand opening of the historic Cataract House Restaurant and Academy in downtown Niagara Falls.
More information is available on the Heritage Center’s website. Most of the events take place in the Atrium of the Heritage Center in Niagara Falls or are available virtually. Events are as follows:
“Frederick Douglass WNY: By Any Means Necessary,” 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the Atrium, 825 Depot Ave. West. The kickoff to Black History Month welcomes the Heritage Center’s own Dr. James Ponzo in “Frederick Douglas WNY: By Any Means Necessary,” a presentation on the life of Frederick Douglass, including the impact that he had on Rochester and all of Western New York. This is a hybrid event and pricing is $8 for singles, $12 for couples, and $25 for families.
African Drumming & Dancing Community Fitness Class with Packard Court Community Center, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in the Atrium at 825 Depot Ave. West, Niagara This community celebration embraces the resilience and power that Black History Month embodies. Join us in a collaborative event with the Packard Court Community Center in an African Dance Class Jamboree featuring drums, music, laughs, and educational conversation. These two sessions are part of the free 10-Week African Drumming and dance Community fitness classes at the Packard Court Community Center to promote health and wellness, sponsored by the Niagara Falls Housing Authority and Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative. This is a free, hybrid event.
“Illuminating Voices of our Future,” StoryTime Animation with the Atlantis School for Gifted Youngsters, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb 5, in the Heritage Center’s Meeting Room, 825 Depot Avenue West. This in-person collaborative event allows eight youngsters ages 9 to 12 to be the storytellers of their own tales over the four Saturdays. These eight students will create, produce, and record voice overs for a StoryTime animation episode that features their own character. Saladin Allah, Visitor Experience Specialist, Community Liaison, and the Founder of the Atlantis School for Gifted Youngsters, will create animations of each child to bring their character to life! The cost is $40 and that covers all four weeks. The Heritage Center is hoping to fund scholarships for each child. Register here.
“Illuminating Voices of our Future,” Storytime Animation with the Atlantis School for Gifted Youngsters, Part 2, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb 12, in the Heritage Center’s Meeting Room; 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls.
“Black Visions” & “Alma Thomas & Me.” This collaboration with the Explore & MoreChildren’s Museum will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb 12, in two locations: the Atrium at 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls; and at Explore & More Children’s Museum, 130 Main St., Buffalo. This informative and empowering event will allow kids ages 8 to 12 to learn about important Black figures from the past and present who are role models for children and young adults in an effort to inspire them to be everything they wish to be and Participants at Explore & More will be led by Heritage Center staff. They will be given a short informative lesson about important and influential Black figures past and present. They will then be guided through the creation of vision boards in an effort to empower today’s youth. Participants at the Heritage Center will be led by Explore & More staff. They will receive a short informative lesson on art, Black artists, and will be guided in a watercolor painting activity inspired by Alma Thomas. This is a free, in-person event, and capacity is 20 youth at the Heritage Center, but there are no capacity restrictions at Explore & More. Register here.
“Blacks in Niagara Falls” with Dr. Michael Boston in collaboration with the Niagara Falls Public Library, 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 15, in the Atrium, 825 Depot Ave. West. Dr. Michael Boston, associate professor at SUNY Brockport, will present “Blacks in Niagara Falls,” detailed study of the history of African Americans in a small upstate New York city, from the days of the Underground Railroad to the deindustrialization of the 1980s. Blacks in Niagara Falls narrates and analyzes the history of Black Niagarans from the days of the Underground Railroad to the Age of Urban This is a hybrid event and prices are $8 for singles, $12 for couples, and $25 for families.
African Drumming & Dancing Community Fitness Class with Packard Court Community Center, Part 2, 6:30 to 7:30 m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Atrium at 825 Depot Ave. West, Niagara Falls. This is a free, hybrid event.
Cataract House Restaurant and Academy and Gallery Opening, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb 18, at 310 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls. The grand opening of the new F Bites Cataract House Restaurant and Academy is a free, in-person event celebrating the continuation of the legacy that is the Cataract House. The event also includes a micro gallery opening featuring Artist Tyshaun Tyson. Chef Bobby Anderson of Hell’s Kitchen and F-Bites is the Owner and Head Chef of this fine establishment with cuisine that reflects the historic African American meals once served. Tyshaun Tyson is one of the two artists to complete the “Black Lives Matter” mural on Main Street near the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage
“Illuminating Voices of our Future,” Storytime Animation with the Atlantis School for Gifted Youngsters, Part 3, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb 19, in the Heritage Center’s Meeting Room; 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls.
“Illuminating Voices of our Future,” Storytime Animation with the Atlantis School for Gifted Youngsters, Part 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb 26, in the Heritage Center’s Meeting Room; 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls.
“History in WNY’s Backyard in collaboration with Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, 4 to 6:15 m. Saturday, Feb 26. This is the largest and most anticipated collaborative event of the month, and the first ever Buffalo and Niagara Falls Black History crossover tour. The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and the MichiganStreet African American Heritage Corridorwill present this two- hour Black History virtual experience of the Heritage Center, the Nash House, Michigan Street Baptist Church, WUFOMIX1080AM, and the Colored Musicians Club. This is a virtual event and tickets are $20.
For more information or to register for these events, call (716) 300-8477 or visit the HeritageCenter’s events page.
The mission of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is to reveal authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls and to inspire visitors to recognize modern injustices that stem from slavery and to take action toward an equitable society.
The Heritage Center is an experiential museum operating every Thursday through Sunday during the Winter season. We offer self-guided tours, facilitated guided tours, school field trips, and numerous public programs throughout the year. Through meaningful interpretive experiences, engaging public programs, services and events, we expand each visitor’s understanding of and appreciation for the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls and the enduring impact of slavery in the United States.
Our new micro exhibit gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the watercolors produced and used throughout the Heritage Center. Painted by watercolor illustrator E.B. Lewis in order to portray the unique stories we tell, the original artwork is straight from his sketchbooks and hangs proudly on our walls.
Exhibit runs May 1st until November 20th.
A special program and discussion will be announced at a later date on our Events page.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2021
Contact: Shannon Polvino
(716) 597-5188 shannon@thinkinsight.co
Virtual Black History Month Events by the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
(Niagara Falls, NY) – The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is celebrating Black History Month through a series of virtual events this February. Each Friday at 7pm this month, the public can join captivating discussions relating to Black history from the comfort of their home.
Interim Director of Education for the Heritage Center, Christine Bacon looks forward to engaging the public through these meaningful discussions.
“Participating in the Center’s Black History Month programming is a great way for the community to come together to discuss and recognize that Black history is American history,” Bacon said. “We are excited to bring the community virtual events for Black History Month that will address the continual movement for civil rights from the Underground Railroad to present-day college campuses.”
The Center is also co-hosting an online event with the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site (TR Site) and the Buffalo Presidential Center to celebrate Black History Month and Presidents’ Day on February 23 at 6pm. The event is part of the TR Site’s 2021 Speaker Nite Series, where author Margaret Kimberley will discuss her book, Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents. Click here for more information.
Black History Month Schedule
Campus Organizing: Discussion Panel
Friday, February 12 at 7pm
Matt McKenzie, Niagara University ’21, leads an inspiring discussion with other student activists.
“Redeeming Uncle Tom” Screening & Discussion
Friday, February 19 at 7pm
Watch the documentary “Redeeming Uncle Tom: The Josiah Henson Story.” Then join Visitor Experience Specialist, and Henson descendant, Saladin Allah for a powerful discussion on legacy and memory.
“Prejudential: Black America & the Presidents” Presented by Margaret Kimberley
Tuesday, February 23 from 6pm – 7:30pm
This Speaker Nite series event will examine issues that were important during Theodore Roosevelt’s lifetime and continue to be relevant today. Co-hosted by the TR Site and the Buffalo Presidential Center
James Baldwin’s “Talk To Teachers”
Friday, February 26 at 7pm
James Ponzo, professor of African American Studies at the University at Buffalo, leads a book discussion featuring James Baldwin’s “Talk to Teachers.” Attendees are not required to read the book beforehand.
About the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center opened in May 2018 after 11 years of planning. The center is located inside the former 1863 U.S. Custom House attached to the Niagara Falls Amtrak station. The center sits adjacent to the location of the former International Suspension Bridge, a point of crossing for many freedom seekers including Harriet Tubman.
The Heritage Center preserves the historic role of the people of Niagara Falls in facilitating freedom for the oppressed. The places and stories associated with this network of freedom seekers, free African Americans and abolitionists, evoke powerful themes in American history and celebrate the bravery of the men and women who risked their lives to achieve the most basic rights of liberty. Learn more at niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org.
The AT&T Virtual Field Trips Program Launches for the School Year
A collaboration between AT&T, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Museum of Science, Explore & More, The Buffalo History Museum and the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Centerto offer free virtual field trips for local public and charter school students
BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2020 – School field trips bring excitement and the spirit of adventure to children of all ages. They complement classroom learning and instruction with wonderful experiences where students can see, touch and hear about subjects presented in school. Field trips provide memories that last a lifetime for students. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, traditional field trip visits to the world-class educational, art and cultural institutions in Western New York will not be possible during the 2020-2021 school year. To help alleviate the disappointment of local students and to add some normalcy to their unusual school year, AT&T, in collaboration with the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Museum of Science, Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum, The Buffalo History Museum and the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center have created the AT&T Virtual Field Trips program. This program will allow tens of thousands of students to experience free virtual field trips throughout Buffalo and Niagara Falls in a memorable, fun and safe way.
The AT&T Virtual Field Trips program provides both prerecorded videos and live virtual leader-led tours. Some of the programs offer downloadable materials for teachers and interactive kits for students. The program is designed to provide a wide array of offerings tailored for students of different ages, ranging from 1st through 12th grades. To help eliminate economic barriers and to foster inclusion, this unique program is provided free of charge for all students and classes that attend Buffalo or Niagara Falls public or charter schools and Western New York Title 1 schools. This program is made possible by a $75,000 contribution from AT&T and the generosity of the partnering cultural and educational institutions.
The Buffalo History Museum offers tours recommended for students in 4th through 6th grades. Each virtual field trip includes a live Zoom tour of two current exhibits with a member of the Museum’s education team. Tours must be booked in advance. The Buffalo History Museum has been Western New York’s premier historical organization since 1862. The history of Western New York is filled with stories of diverse people striving to create a place that they can call home. Stories brewing with ingenuity and hope, but fraught with struggle and conflict. The virtual tour will bring the past to life in a personal way-through intimate narratives of everyday people and key historical figures and provide participants opportunities to engage with real artifacts and primary sources, while connecting with subject matter experts to access unique resources of the museum.
Great art is transformational. The Albright-Knox invites teachers and students to join us for virtual experiences designed to support the development of the critical and creative thinkers of tomorrow. Opportunities include live virtual guided tours and pre-recorded videos that will serve as a teaching resource to focus on critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Students will discover works of art from the Albright-Knox’s collection and exhibitions through a range of learning strategies, including open-ended and guided questions, conversation, and activities.
The authentic stories shared at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center highlight the extraordinary results that are achieved when ordinary people stand against oppression. On a live virtual field trip, museum educators will connect with classrooms remotely in real time. During a facilitated, interactive program, students will learn the history of the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls while engaging in dialogue that will help them recognize the modern injustices that stem from slavery and think critically about what steps they can take to create a more equitable, just, and free society.
The Buffalo Museum of Science is ready to bring the wonder and excitement of the Museum to virtual classrooms! The Museum’s experienced facilitators will bring a unique educational experience and scientific expertise to students and educators. Whether participants are looking for an eye-popping science demonstration or a Behind-the-Scenes virtual tour, students and teachers can customize programming to suit specific needs and grade level. If school district guidance allows, kits can also be assembled and delivered to schools to give students immersive, hands-on experiences.
Children of all ages learn through exploration and grow through creativity. In this spirit, Explore & More invites young learners — the innovators of tomorrow — to “Explore, and More!” Explore & More has created seven (7) interactive videos that can be used together or individually by teachers. Each video includes a tour of one of the Educational Play Zones; a related activity and/or experiment that can easily be replicated by parents at home or teachers in school; and concludes by highlighting a STEM career. These tours are ideal for 3rd – 5th graders.
“Field trips are such an important component of every student’s education, providing enriching exposure to our world-class cultural institutions. While in-person class visits are not possible during the pandemic, virtual field trips are a terrific way to open the doors to our many museums and other cultural assets,” Mayor Byron W. Brown said. “Thank you to the cultural institutions which have embraced this creative way to offer field trips, and also to AT&T for once again stepping up as a community partner to make this new initiative possible.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily changed the way our children learn, but time and again our educators and our business leaders have stepped up to ensure that our students have access to new and innovative resources throughout remote learning,” said Senator Tim Kennedy. “As AT&T and Buffalo’s cultural institutions launch these interactive field trips, we’re seeing yet another example of these strong, creative partnerships encouraging them to continue to explore their city, albeit through a different lens.”
“Western New York has an extraordinarily rich history and legacy of achievement. Communicating the importance of that history and culture is more important than ever now that we remain distant from each other due to the public health risk posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Congressman Brian Higgins said. “This collaboration will allow some of our community’s most important cultural institutions to continue to connect with our young people to enrich our community’s knowledge and learning amid significant barriers to in-person visits.”
For more information on the AT&T Virtual Field Trips program and the various virtual educational tours and instructions on how to book a virtual leader-tour or to access the videos and virtual assets newly produced by the participating institutions, please visit https://exploreandmore.org/att-virtual-field-trips/. All other schools and districts across Western New York interested in participating in the video tours are welcome to use the program for their students.
“As thousands of local students are either following a distance learning or hybrid model as a result of Covid-19, we are proud to help provide this opportunity and support educators who are keeping our students connected and to help ensure students aren’t deprived of the educational experience field trips to museums provide,” said Amy Kramer, New York President AT&T. “We are thrilled to collaborate with these remarkable educational cultural institutions that are not just pillars of this community, but have also been enriching our children’s educations for generations, and AT&T is happy keep the spirt of these field trips alive for this year and provide students of all ages some sort of normalcy.”
AT&T’s support for this program is part of the Company’s legacy of supporting educational programs focused on STEM disciplines in New York and nationally through AT&T Aspire, the Company’s signature $600 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue of education, including funding, technology, programing, employee volunteerism and mentoring. Aspire is one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on school success and workforce readiness by creating new learning environments and educational delivery systems to help students succeed and prepare them to take on 21st century careers. The program also aligns with the Company’s AT&T Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund, a $10 million COVID-19 relief program launched to give parents, caregivers and teachers tools they need to educate students remotely.
“The Albright-Knox is delighted to be a part of this important program that brings new and thought-provoking learning experiences to students throughout Western New York,” said Albright-Knox Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director Janne Sirén. “We believe that interactions with art can be transformational for young minds and we are thrilled to be able to share our wonderful collection in this innovative way.”
“The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is thrilled to participate in the AT&T Virtual Field Trips program,” said Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center Interim Director of Education, Christine Bacon. “This is an amazing opportunity for students to be inspired by ordinary people who took extraordinary steps to overcome great obstacles. Now more than ever, we need stories like this to uplift us.”
“We are so honored to participate in this virtual field trip program,” said Melissa Brown, Executive Director, The Buffalo History Museum. “In providing these students the opportunity to learn about our region’s past, we hope that not only will they receive educational value, but find personal and meaningful connections to the people that came before them.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for elevated science literacy as well as continued access to STEM resources in schools,” says Marisa Wigglesworth, President and CEO, Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. “The Buffalo Museum of Science is excited to continue engaging students in Buffalo and Niagara Falls through virtual tours and experiments that will inspire and encourage the STEM leaders of tomorrow. We are grateful to AT&T for making this wonderful program possible.”
“Through the AT&T Virtual Field Trip program we are able to keep the play alive. Our virtual field trips focus on STEM, an ever growing and critical field for children to embrace,” states Michelle Urbanczyk, Chief Executive Officer of Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum. “In doing STEM based activities and exposing children to experts like astronomists and veterinarians, we are hoping to show how exciting and fun a career in STEM can be.”
“Thank you to AT&T and our local historical, educational, and arts institutions for giving our students access to this extraordinaryVirtual Field Tripsprogram,” said Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. “The excitement and enrichment this program will bring to our students will spark their interests for a lifetime, and the virtual experience will help to fill the gap while essential in-person field trips are paused.”
“At this time, more than ever, our students need to experience the rich heritage and culture Western New York offers,” said Mark Laurrie, Superintendent, Niagara Falls CSD. “The ability to build a child’s background knowledge through a creative and interactive way is meeting the needs of young people in a cutting edge manner. The support of AT&T is a gift that will last long in the schema of the children of Niagara Falls.”
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is proud to proclaim August 28, 2020 as JohnLewis Day at the Center, in honor of the late Representative
Fifty-seven years ago, on August 28, 1963, over 200,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. JohnLewis, chairman and co-founder of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), delivered a speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Lewis spoke to the lived reality of African Americans at the time: lack of employment, voter suppression, police violence, and homelessness. Known for his activism, Lewis went on to be elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 where he served Georgia’s 5th District until his death this year.
Fifty-seven years later, Lewis’s speech remains chillingly relevant, just as the resistance to oppression that became the Underground Railroad remains relevant today. Lewis continued the work of the Freedom Seekers who came before him. We must all continue the work of JohnLewis.
In honor of Lewis‘ legacy of fighting for racial equality and voting rights, we welcome all to visit the Heritage Center to learn the history behind his activism and to be inspired by the stories of perseverance told within our walls.
JohnLewis Day features:
Free admission to the Heritage Center from Friday, August 28th thru Sunday, August 30, courtesy of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Due to capacity guidelines, we will be enacting timed ticketing. Reserve your space now.
A free copy of the Black History Coloring Book: Entrepreneurs with all purchases of at least $57.
On-site voter registration provided in coordination with Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope.
