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FLUSHING -- The Underground Railroad Museum will host its final event at its Flushing location Saturday as it prepares to move to the historic Black Horse Inn in Morristown.
The event begins at 10 a.m. with lectures beginning at 11 a.m. Topics will include Black women in history, the history of Juneteenth, the civil rights movement and, concluding at 2 p.m., lynching in Ohio.
Museum Director Kristina Estle said the final lecture is intended for a mature audience.
Estle said the lectures will highlight the work the museum has continued since the death of late founder Dr. John Mattox, who died seven years ago. The event will also honor Mattox's 30 years of operating the museum.
"Dr. Mattox was an incredible man. The organization that he and his wife, Rosalind, started still continues on today and that is so amazing," Estle said. "He would have talks, travel to schools and had his traveling trunk. Everybody knew Dr. Mattox. Everyone loved him. Every time he met someone, they would leave feeling like they had a new best friend. But he was also so articulate and charismatic. He instilled a love for history in others and that is what I still try to do today."
After Mattox's death, Estle became the museum's director and said she continues to carry on his mission of educating the public through presentations, lectures, school groups, homeschooling groups and museum visitors.
"I have done everything in my power to continue the organization in Dr. Mattox's likeness and I think that I have done a good job of that," Estle said. "I really feel like this is a beautiful way to commemorate Doctor Mattox's legacy."
Although Saturday will mark the museum's final event at the Flushing location, Estle said the museum will continue to operate from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, but large groups are asked to provide advance notice so a separate tour can be scheduled.
In 2024, the Underground Railroad Museum received $3.9 million through Gov. Mike DeWine's Appalachian Community Grant Program. The program is part of a $154 million investment in Appalachian downtowns and destinations. One requirement of the grant is that the project be completed by October.
The project will move the museum into the historic Black Horse Inn in Morristown. The inn was built in 1807 and is one of the last remaining inns and taverns along the Old National Road. It is also believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Estle said she believes Mattox would be proud of the museum's continued growth.
"It's been a journey, it's had its hard times, exciting and happy times. But when I began in this role seven years ago, I wasn't the person I am today. The museum and this organization has really shaped me into who I am today. I have grown into this role, I have educated myself on every aspect behind various Black history topics," Estle said. "Like Dr. Mattox, I feel that educating the public is crucial. People fear what they don't understand. Educating the public will really lead to fostering acceptance for one another. Learning each other's histories and backgrounds is very, very important in today's climate."
"Black history is being erased. Um, and we need to fight that. I want people to attend my lectures. I want people to come visit the museum and educate themselves on Black history. It's a hard history, but it's a crucial history that everyone needs to learn and appreciate," Estle said.
Estle added that although the new location received $3.9 million, the funding is strictly for renovating the Black Horse Inn. The museum did not receive funds for operations and relies on donations from visitors.
"I think it's going to be an amazing event and a great opportunity for people to come in and not only tour the museum, but they can literally pick which presentation they want to attend or if they want to attend all of them," Estle said. "It really gives people a unique opportunity to be able to pick and choose what they want to attend. It's very important for everyone to come see the museum as it is now before we move."
Estle said the Flushing location does not currently have a final closing date but she will notify the public once that information is available.