|
|
Learning to navigate the Underground Railroad
History Close at Hand
|
September 16, 2009 | 02:32 PM
"Now do you all know how to find the North Star? Look up and find the big dipper and follow the two stars in the bottom out to the next star, that's the North Star. You just keep followin' that and you'll get where your headed. You can't stop because you're lost or tired or sick. You can't stop for nothin, for no one. You may even have to leave someone behind. If you really want to be free, you just got to keep movin." (Conner Prairie "Follow the North Star" interpreter.)
| | 
|  |
| |  | | 
| | | Two Conner Prairie historic structures in the village, including a costumed interpreter in the doorway of one.
Photo by Beverly Tyler (click for larger version) | |
A few weeks ago I attended a history conference in Indianapolis, Ind., along with hundreds of other museum and historical society staff and volunteers from around the country. One of the places we visited was the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park six miles north of Indianapolis. About 30 of us signed up for a special program where we became, for about an hour, fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad.
Conner Prairie, beginning nine years ago, changed their interpretive focus from one where visitors were given scripted information by costumed actors to one where costumed interpreters engage museum guests and invite them to participate in the experience of 19th century life on the prairie. This new interpretative method, which Conner Prairie calls Opening Doors, has been so successful and well-received by the public that it is now a model for living history museums around the country.
For Conner Prairie's Underground Railroad program, Follow the North Star, the first group of about 15 of us were led up to the museum's conference room where we viewed an introductory film and were given instructions by museum staff members on the part we would play as slaves. It was dark outside. We were transported on a fairly comfortable open wagon, with seats enough for all of us, from the museum to a place in the woods surrounding the museum's 1836 Prairietown village. We really had no idea exactly where we were. We were led along a path through the woods to begin the experience. We were told that we would meet a number of people on our travels, some of whom we would like and some we would not. We were then told:
"You have the unique opportunity this evening to learn a significant part of our country's history, not through books, not through classroom or research, but through your own personal participation in the live story." (Conner Prairie interpretive leader.)
Over the next hour we met a number of people, from the slave owner who "got in our face" at the beginning of our journey and then sold us in an illegal slave sale (Indiana was a free state in 1836), to a Quaker family who brought us into their home, gave us corn bread and helped us continue our journey. All during our walk through the woods and the village we met many of the people, both good and bad, who would have come in contact with runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad. Some of them helped us along in our journey, often cautiously and with trepidation. Others challenged us, got in our faces and threatened us. We were kept together, often by an uncostumed plant in our midst, and we were always able to continue our journey with the help of various people who suddenly appeared in our path.
At the end of the program we were told, in story form, what eventually happened to each of us on our journey north toward Canada. Some of us made it to freedom and some did not. We then returned to the museum conference room, were given a debriefing, met our various interpreters and discussed our experiences. This program may not be for everyone, but it was a moving experience for all of us who participated that evening.
Conner Prairie runs this limited program, Follow the North Star, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm in November and April in all weather conditions. Reservations are required. Details on the program are available on their website at www.ConnerPrairie.org or by calling 800-966-1836. Follow the North Star is also presented for middle school students as a daytime program.
The Three Village Historical Society has two upcoming walking tour interpretive programs this fall. Saturday, Oct. 17: 15th annual Spirits Tour. Legends and Legendary People of the Three Villages, and Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 pm: Walk Through History with Farmer and Spy Abraham Woodhull. Visit www.ThreeVillageHistoricalSociety.org for details or call 751-3730.
Beverly Tyler is Three Village Historical Society historian and author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket, NY 11733. 751-3730. www.TVHS.org.
| |
|
|
|
| |
Copyright 2010
(631) 751-7744 | news@tbrnewspapers.com | www.northshoreoflongisland.com | About |
|
| |
|
