 – This multimedia exhibition, “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad” is now viewing at the Carnegie Center for Art & History.…){kind=link}
NEW ALBANY, IN (NWPR) – This multimedia exhibition, “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad” is now viewing at the Carnegie Center for Art & History. After exploring the wealth of information in the exhibit, visitors enter a small theater where they view a dramatic, interactive feature-length film.
For two and a half centuries, slavery was a blight on our nation’s psyche. Through it all, more and more ordinary people acted in the face of human tragedy and changed America forever.
Ordinary People draws the national phenomenon of the Underground Railroad into sharp focus by revealing the contributions of ordinary people, both free and enslaved, whose courageous acts on both sides of the Ohio River helped overthrow the institution of slavery. At the heart of the exhibit are the actual New Albany residents, black and white, young and old, rich and poor, who were able to accomplish so much in the face of such great risk.
This multimedia presentation continues its exploration of the lives of real people, both free and enslaved, whose selfless acts of courage helped fugitive slaves find hope and freedom. Based on the book, “The Underground Railroad in Floyd County, Indiana” by Pam Peters, this powerful story is woven through actual newspaper accounts, artifacts, and revealing illustrations and photographs.
Editor’s note: This remarkable story is available for sale on DVD, which the film has received awards from the American Alliance of Museums and the American Association for State and Local History. See more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMVUv1vFgGI
In addition to the Ordinary People and after almost four years of research and collaboration, the Center is presenting their latest addition, “Remembered: the Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols” exhibit that tells the journey of Lucy’s life, from 1838-1915 with period documents and letters detail her life as a slave in Tennessee, a nurse during the Civil War, and her post-war life in freedom.
Remembered highlights her six year battle for a nurse’s pension, which was ultimately awarded through a Special Act of Congress. Visitors can explore maps that pinpoint the paths she took and examine actual artifacts from the Civil War, including an Enfield rifle and an amputation saw of the same type used by the surgeons Lucy served with in the 23rd Indiana Volunteers. See more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AD_BDr3N0k&t=25s