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Museum celebrating Black History

Photo Provided Artifacts and displays like this at the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing tell the story of African-Americans’ journey through the centuries. The museum will host Black History Month activities on Saturday.

FLUSHING – Black History Month begins Saturday, and the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing will kick off its observation of this important occasion on that date.

With its extensive collection of publications, books, memorabilia and artifacts, museum aims to educate and inform people young and old about the history of the slave trade, the treacherous route to freedom and the African-Americans who were held in servitude as well as their descendants and their fight for true equality. In addition to its portrayal of the bigger, national picture, the facility focuses on the role local individuals have played in that story, which continues to unfold today.

In keeping with its mission, the museum has scheduled a number of activities to open Black History Month, welcoming guests of all ages to visit the site and learn more about our common past.

Things get underway at 10 a.m. Saturday with a coffee hour, complete with bagels and opportunities for conversation and exploration of the museum’s collections.

A story hour for children begins at 11 a.m. Cathy Nelson, founder of the Friends of Freedom Society, will read age-appropriate stories of the Underground Railroad to youngsters in the museum’s second-floor gathering room.

“History is a collection of stories,” Nelson said. “And the museum is filled with stories of its founders and the items they collected. Those stories help keep the past in the present.”

The late Dr. John and Rosalind Mattox founded the museum in 1993 to preserve the past for future generations. Their children, John Jr. and Suzanne Evans, are now working with a board of directors that includes Nelson to carry on their legacy.

At noon Saturday, guided tours of the facility, pointing out some of the museum’s most popular items, will take place. Free pizza will then be offered to all who attend, courtesy of Carpenter’s Pizza, also located in downtown Flushing. The events are scheduled to conclude at 1 p.m.

In addition to the Black History Month activities at the museum, located at 121 High St. in Flushing, other events will be taking place in the village that day. Furniture Rescue, a specialty shop that occupies the storefront next door, will reopen for the season. In addition, Flushing Alliance Church will hold its 15th annual Short Term Missions Wild Game Dinner at 6 p.m. at Flushing Fire Hall, 104 High Street. Call 740-968-3911 for more information or tickets to that event.

Regular museum hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays by appointment only. Call 740-968-2080 or 740-391-3135 to schedule an appointment.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend Black History Month activities on Saturday by emailing the director at Kristina.estle@ugrrf.org.

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