News Release
Courtesy of Matt Teuten
Subscribe
 |
What is RSS
|
Contact: Amanda Pollock, Network to Freedom
Church Creek, MD – The National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom accepted the Robert Gould Shaw 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, owned and managed by the City of Boston, as one of 16 new listings from the 43rd round of applications, representing sites and programs in 11 states across the country. These new listings, alongside over 700 sites, facilities, and programs already in the Network, provide insight into the diverse experiences of freedom seekers who bravely escaped slavery and those who assisted them.
“It’s fitting to welcome new additions to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom as we celebrate Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday. Like Harriet Tubman, the freedom seekers and allies highlighted in each Network to Freedom listing remind us of what can be accomplished when people take action against injustice,” said Diane Miller, national program manager of the Network to Freedom. “Each listing holds a unique part of the Underground Railroad story, and we look forward to working with members to amplify the power of these places.”
Located on Boston Common, the Robert Gould Shaw 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial commemorates one of the first Black regiments in the Civil War. Both the memorial and the regiment it honors have strong connections to the Underground Railroad. Freedom seekers and allies are represented within the regiment and in its recruiters. Furthermore, several individuals formerly involved in Boston’s Vigilance Committee, a group of organizers who collaboratively assisted freedom seekers in Boston, advocated for the creation of this beautiful monument.
The Robert Gould Shaw 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial is an outdoor public monument that can be viewed at any time. For more information, visit National Parks of Boston’s website.
The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom serves to honor, preserve, and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. The Network currently represents over 700 locations in 39 states, plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom helps to advance the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.
Last updated: January 2, 2024