Ohio University Southern is offering an opportunity for students and community members to step into history with a trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati on Friday, Feb. 28.

The experience, made possible through a partnership between OUS and the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), offers students a chance to explore one of the nation’s most significant cultural institutions — one that features exhibits with direct ties to the Ironton area — at no cost.

“This is about more than just Black History Month,” said Dr. Teresa McKenzie, Accessibility coordinator and coordinator of Veteran’s Services at OUS. “It’s about cultural experiences and exposure to history that our students and community members might not otherwise have the opportunity to see.”

The Freedom Center, located along the banks of the Ohio River — a critical divide between free and slave states before the Civil War — highlights 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.

Attendees will have access to the center’s 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’s inclusion in this exhibit is particularly meaningful for the Ironton community, as his work directly influenced the region’s history and the broader fight for abolition.

John Rankin, a nationally known abolitionist with deep ties to Ironton, played a critical role in the Underground Railroad.

Rankin’s home in Ripley 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 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’s 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’s 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’s courageous decision to make his funeral an international moment of reckoning.

Participants will depart from OUS in a chartered bus, with lunch provided during the trip at Northern Kentucky University. Registration is required as seating is limited.

“This is an opportunity for students to not only learn about history but to engage with it in a meaningful way,” McKenzie said. “We hope they leave inspired to carry forward the lessons of the past into their own lives and communities.”

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