Saving History Saturday: Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center Receives Travelers’ Choice Award

Sharing an original press release received via email this week about exciting news for a museum that has been working to preserve, share, and interpret the history of the Underground Railroad in New York, near the border with Canada. 

The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center has received recognition from Tripadvsor with a 2020 Travelers’ Choice Award. Tripadvisor researches reviews and ratings for different attractions each year in order to award the top 10% attractions worldwide.

The center has received great reviews for showcasing the stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers. The interactive exhibition, ‘One More River to Cross’ features authentic stories from the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls and ties in modern day injustices that stem from slavery.

Director of Operations at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Evan Wright is moved by the positive feedback from the Niagara Falls community and visitors. “Our staff prioritizes the visitor experience, so it is incredible to be acknowledged for our great work,” Wright said. “Our visitors drive us to provide engaging tours that leave them with goosebumps while they take in the stories of our past. I always look forward to sharing the museum’s mission of freedom, resistance, and social justice that make our visitors reflect.”

Virtual Freedom Conservation tours are set to launch in October. For hours, group tours and admission prices, individuals can visit: niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org.

The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center opened in May 2018 after 11 years of planning. The center is located inside the former 1863 U.S. Custom House attached to the Niagara Falls Amtrak station. The center sits adjacent to the location of the former International Suspension Bridge, a point of crossing for many freedom seekers including Harriet Tubman.

The Heritage Center preserves the historic role of the people of Niagara Falls in facilitating freedom for the oppressed. The places and stories associated with this network of freedom seekers, free African Americans and abolitionists, evoke powerful themes in American history and celebrate the bravery of the men and women who risked their lives to achieve the most basic rights of liberty. Learn more at niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org.