August is our month for a group outing, and that’s always a good excuse to discover new parts of the Freethought Trail!

This year we’re planning to head over to the Onondaga History Museum for a tour of their exhibit Freedom Bound: Syracuse and the Underground Railroad. Next we plan to take a short walk over to Fayette Park, where a historical marker in the park’s southeastern corner tells the story of a speech by Frederick Douglass and spotlights Syracuse abolitionists who resided near the park. Afterward, we plan to head out for refreshment at a nearby restaurant (TBD).

What you need to know:

• We’ll meet at the museum at 12:30; the tour will start at 1 and last at least an hour.

• While entrance to the museum is free, the cost of the tour will be $5 per person. All tour participants receive a 10% off voucher to the OHA Gift Gallery.

• The walk to Fayette Park from the museum is about 5 minutes.

About the exhibit:

Freedom Bound: Syracuse & the Underground Railroad: This award winning exhibit focuses on the history of Anti-Slavery and Underground Railroad Activity in Onondaga County. The installation features three of the seven carved faces recovered from the basement of Syracuse’s 1846 Wesleyan Methodist Church and personalizes the story of the Underground Railroad while educating visitors about slavery, abolitionism, tolerance, and the meaning of freedom.

About the Freethought Trail:

The Freethought Trail is site-focused, designed especially for the history enthusiast who yearns to understand…the spot where a historical event occurred, regardless of whether or not the site is marked or interpreted today. Some Freethought Trail sites feature historical markers or even museums; others are unmarked and may be unknown among area residents.