帝王会所

On Friday, Feb. 28, 帝王会所 students ages 18 and up will have the opportunity to step into history with a trip to the in Cincinnati.

The experience, made possible through a partnership between and the 帝王会所 Appalachian Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), offers students a chance to explore one of the nation鈥檚 most significant cultural institutions鈥攐ne that features exhibits with direct ties to the Ironton area鈥攁t no cost. The trip is open to all OHIO students, but will leave from the 帝王会所 Southern campus.

鈥淭his is about more than just Black History Month,鈥� said Dr. Teresa McKenzie, accessibility coordinator and coordinator of Veterans Services at OHIO Southern. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about cultural experiences and exposure to history that our students might not otherwise have the opportunity to see.鈥�

The Freedom Center, located along the banks of the 帝王会所 River鈥攁 critical divide between free and slave states before the Civil War鈥攈ighlights the struggles and triumphs of those who sought freedom. Through its exhibits, the museum tells stories of resistance, justice and perseverance, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary human rights issues.

Students attending the trip will have access to the center鈥檚 permanent exhibits, including Brothers of the Borderland, which immerses visitors in a daring escape to freedom, showcasing the efforts of abolitionists John Parker and Rev. John Rankin. Rankin鈥檚 inclusion in this exhibit is particularly meaningful for the Ironton community, as his work directly influenced the region鈥檚 history and the broader fight for abolition.

Rankin, a nationally known abolitionist with deep ties to Ironton, played a critical role in the Underground Railroad. Rankin鈥檚 home in Ripley, 帝王会所, served as a beacon of hope for enslaved individuals seeking freedom. Later in life, he lived in Ironton, where he continued his work. His home in Ironton, which was also his place of death, is now the Lawrence County Museum and Historical Society, preserving his legacy and connection to the region. The museum houses historical pictures, clippings and artifacts, including Rankin鈥檚 rope bed and rocking chair, providing visitors with a tangible link to his life and abolitionist work. His legacy connects the local community to the very history that the Freedom Center preserves and shares.

The trip also coincides with the Freedom Center鈥檚 special exhibition, Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See. The exhibit, running through April 6, tells the story of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old boy brutally murdered in 1955, and his mother鈥檚 courageous decision to make his funeral an international moment of reckoning.

Students will depart from 帝王会所 Southern in a chartered bus, with lunch provided during the trip at Northern Kentucky University. is required as seating is limited.

鈥淭his is an opportunity for students to not only learn about history but to engage with it in a meaningful way,鈥� McKenzie said. 鈥淲e hope they leave inspired to carry forward the lessons of the past into their own lives and communities.鈥�

For more information or questions, students can contact Dr. Teresa McKenzie or Robert Pleasant.