So Much History ~ From New York to Los Angeles
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
"Whether it's freedom to express, freedom to live, freedom to earn, freedom to thrive, freedom to learn, whatever it is, I want to make sure that I'm a part of these spaces and opening doors." — Angela Rye
My thoughts about the Finger Lakes were all about waterfalls, food, wine, hiking and really just having a great time exploring the area. I might have peripherally been aware that Niagara was the last stop on the underground railroad or that the women’s suffragette movement had its birth in this area but was truly not focused on exploring this history during this vacation.
Then we stepped off the highway and found ourselves in Seneca Falls and at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, and so it began this journey into the events that began the battle to secure women equal rights or a plan to visit the Niagara Underground Railroad Museum or to Auburn to visit Harriet Tubman’s house.
As if to put a bow on this historical exploration, a trip to the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles to visit The American Library exhibit just made total sense.
It’s hard to believe that the Women’s Right movement began in the small town of Seneca Falls. Due to the town’s connectivity through the canals, and railroads the women here felt that it would be easier to spread their reform message across the globe.
The organizers of the First Women’s Rights convention organized the first ever women’s rights convention in 1847 with a view towards “securing to women an equal participation with men in various trades, professions and commerce”. But ideas proved easier than actual change and it would take seven decades in the United States and eight in Great Britain to achieve women’s suffrage.
On August 22, 2013, President Obama visited the Women’s Historical National Park to deliver a copy of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Despite all this good work, the glass ceiling remains and women are still fighting for equality.
Painted by Blake Chamberlain, a multi-colored mural of the key players who spearheaded the movement for reform.
In a much more reflective mood, we determined to add the historical element to our exploration of this area. With that in mind we made our way to the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and stood at the Freedom Bridge in Niagara Falls.
Murals outside the center celebrate the courage of the people like Harriet Tubman who led escaped slaves through the underground railroad to freedom in Canada.
The murals are relevant and current as we walked along the street and read the messages and saw the art that reflected artist’s thoughts on the state of the world.
Another stop on the Freedom Trail before the bridge came into being the boats that were used to cross the river into Canada. This is marked by the the Freedom Crossing Monument in Lewiston.
By this time, it was inevitable that we would put Auburn on the map and visit Harriet Tubman’s home and heritage. There is much construction and refurbishment happening in Auburn, but I did visit the Equal Rights Heritage Center.
The wall of fame at the Equal Rights Heritage Center honoring the voices that contributed to the civil rights that many of us enjoy today despite the struggle that continues to exist.
The walls of the Equal Rights Heritage Center showcase the history of the movement and honor the men and women who contributed to the cause.
It just seems appropriate to mention the American Library exhibit that I had a chance to visit right here in Los Angeles at the Skirball Center Museum.
This piece by contemporary artist Yinka Shonebare consists of 6000 hardback books wrapped in Dutch wax printed cotton, 3200 of which names embossed in gold. These names comprise of immigrants and descendants of immigrants who have had an impact on American Culture and African Americans who migrated from the American South to the North during the Great Migration.
Would it surprise you that Donald Trump’s name is one of those 3200 names?
While the exhibit is eye catching and definitely made me catch my breath what I really liked about it is the interactive nature of the exhibit. It’s almost like having a conversation with everyday people like you and I who are encouraged to add note cards with their stories or use one of the computers set up to type in their story.
What an incredible experience to spend some time reading the stories.
