Freedom Crossing Monument facts for kids
The Freedom Crossing Monument is a special place in Lewiston, New York, right by the Niagara River. It honors the brave people who escaped slavery and found freedom in Canada. It also celebrates the kind volunteers who helped them cross the river. This monument was officially opened on October 14, 2009.
The monument shows how important the Niagara River was for the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe places and routes. It helped enslaved people travel from the southern United States to freedom.
Volunteers from the Historical Association of Lewiston, Inc. planned and raised money for this project. They started thinking about the monument in 2006. The main funding came from the Town of Lewiston using funds from the New York Power Authority. Other groups like the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation and the KeyBank Foundation also helped. No tax money was used for the monument.
Contents
Why the Monument Was Built
The monument is named after a book called Freedom Crossing. Margaret Goff Clark wrote this book, and it was first published in 1969. Over half a million students have read it. It teaches them about how the Underground Railroad worked.
The story in the book takes place in Lewiston. It mentions real places like the Presbyterian Church. It also features a real person, Josiah Tryon (1798–1886). He was a volunteer "station master" for the Underground Railroad in Lewiston. Mr. Tryon secretly helped people escape. He rowed them across the Niagara River at night. The monument shows him handing a baby to a mother who is escaping.
The book's main character, Laura Eastman, is a teenage girl. She is also shown in the monument. Her arm is stretched out, pointing towards Canada. She represents the courage of both the people seeking freedom and the volunteers who helped them.
How the Monument Was Made
Susan Geissler, a talented sculptor, was chosen to design and create the monument. She worked with Lee Simonson, a volunteer project director. It took over three years to plan, get approvals, and raise money. But the actual building of the monument only took about nine months.
The bronze parts of the monument were made in Loveland, Colorado. They were then brought to Lewiston by truck. The installation happened quickly, in just 12 hours. This was on September 28, 2009, during a very rainy day. Workers from the Village of Lewiston, along with volunteers, helped put the pieces together.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument has five bronze sculptures. They are a bit bigger than life-size. The sculptures show a family escaping slavery: a father, a mother, and a baby. It also shows Josiah Tryon, the local Underground Railroad station master. The fictional character Laura Eastman is there too. A rowboat is part of the monument, and two figures stand on rocks that look like the riverbank.
Every part of the monument has a special meaning. For example, the cane held by the escaping father is important. A story says that an escaped person once gave a special cane to a volunteer as a thank you.
Interesting Facts About the Monument
There are no known photos of Josiah Tryon. So, a local person named Timothy Henderson was the model for his sculpture. Henderson has been acting as Tryon since 1994.
The monument has secret messages and codes on each character. For instance, the GPS coordinates of Josiah Tryon's grave are written on his sculpture.
This monument is the first large Underground Railroad monument in Western New York near the Canada–US border. It is the second one in the United States. The first one is in Detroit, Michigan.
At the dedication ceremony, speakers included Marcia Clark Noel, who is the daughter of the Freedom Crossing book author. Lezlie Harper Wells, a descendant of people who escaped slavery across the Niagara River, also spoke.
The Story on the Plaque
The Underground Railroad was a secret way for enslaved African-Americans to escape to Canada. This happened in the mid-1800s. Canada, as part of the British Empire, had ended slavery in 1834.
Lewiston was one of the last stops on this secret route. Many local people helped those escaping, even though it was against the law.
This monument shows the exact moment when people escaping slavery first saw Canada. They had traveled hundreds of dangerous miles. They had to avoid slave catchers who were paid to capture them and send them back.
Josiah Tryon (1798–1886) is shown handing the baby to the mother. He was Lewiston's volunteer "station master" for the Underground Railroad. Tryon was a quiet, humble, and religious man. He secretly rowed escaping slaves to freedom at night. He gave them hope and fought for justice and equality. He truly cared for people of all backgrounds.
Laura Eastman is shown pointing to Canada. She is the famous character from the historical book Freedom Crossing. Thousands of students read this book every year. Laura has become a symbol of how the human spirit can overcome unfairness.
Project Timeline Highlights
- April 6, 2006: The idea for the monument was first suggested by volunteer Lee Simonson.
- May 17, 2007: The NY State Parks Commissioner visited Lewiston and liked the monument idea.
- May 24, 2007: KeyBank Foundation became the first private sponsor.
- October 15, 2007: The Village of Lewiston fully supported the project.
- October 29, 2007: The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation became a major private sponsor.
- January 15, 2008: The project was the first to be approved by the Niagara River Greenway Commission.
- April 28, 2008: The Town of Lewiston approved using Greenway funds.
- July 27, 2008: The contract was signed with artist Susan Geissler to start work.
- September 28, 2009: The bronze sculptures were installed in a 12-hour work session.
- October 14, 2009: The Freedom Crossing Monument was officially revealed in an evening ceremony. Over 400 people attended.
