Freedom is something that many take for granted, but our nation’s struggle for freedom for all citizens did not begin and end with the Civil War. Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø is home to 21 National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom sites. Explore these preserved sites that honor those from our past who pursued freedom by traveling the Underground Railroad.
While the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø City Monarchs originally found their home on the Missouri side, the team has been reborn on the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø side of the border. The Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø City Monarchs were the longest0running franchise in the history of the Negro leagues. This team produced more major league players than any of their other Negro league peers. It was also the first professional baseball team to use portable lighting to play games at night, five years before any other major league team did. And did we mention that they only had one season to not have a winning record in the history of the franchise? The Monarchs are legends in the baseball world. In a partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø City T-Bones have announced their rebranding to bring the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø City Monarchs back to life. It's easy to sit back, relax and enjoy the game, but make sure to check out a Negro Leagues exhibit at the stadium while you're there.
The story of Nicodemus is the representation of the involvement of formerly enslaved African Americans in America's westward expansion. These freedom seekers left Kentucky during the reconstruction period to find their freedom in the "promised land" on the plains of Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø. This small town in northwestern Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø is the oldest black settlement west of the Mississippi River still in existence. The walking tour of the town takes you to five historic buildings that represent the pillars of the African-American community: church, self-government, education, home and business.
Jenny Dawn Cellars - First Black-Owned Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø Winery
Jennifer McDonald started off as an at-home winemaker, but her dream soon grew into a full-fledged urban winery in Wichita, a first for the city. Jenny Dawn Cellars' location at Union Station has 11 handcrafted wines, charcuterie, small bites and offers Winuecation - a monthly educational class. Jennifer says that the wine offered at Jenny Dawn Cellars is 'inspired by the wildflowers on the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø countryside, inviting you to open up, enjoy the breeze and show your colors to the world.'
Gordon Parks, a Fort Scott native, was the first black photojournalist to work for LIFE magazine and the first black director of a major Hollywood production (The Learning Tree, 1968.) He was a vibrant voice in the Civil Rights movement through his work as a photographer, filmmaker, writer, poet and composer. Parks' work is celebrated at the Gordon Parks Museum & Center for Culture and Diversity at Fort Scott Community College. Their collection includes many of his famous photographs, medals, awards, and furnishings from his apartment in New York.
Marla A. Jackson, a world-renowned artist and creator, is the entrepreneur behind this community-based art education center. Marla's works are inspired by the oral histories of her ancestors and the Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø region. Her narrative quilts have been featured in 35 national and international venues including the American Folk Art Museum, The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and so many more. Make an appointment to meet Marla and to learn from a true master of her crafts, and an inspiration for all Â鶹´«Ã½¹ÙÍø creators.
