Black Meetings & Tourism - The National Park Service, National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program

Current Events
The National Park Service, National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program
The National Park Service, National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program is proud to present the 6th annual National Underground Railroad Conference in St. Augustine, Florida, June 20-24, 2012. The conference theme is the resistance to slavery through escape and flight to and from the South, including through international flight, from the 16th century to the end of the Civil War. This conference will explore how southern freedom seekers seized opportunities to escape slavery into Spanish Florida, the Caribbean Islands, Indian Territory, Texas, and Mexico. The conference will also explore how the Underground Railroad shaped the culture of southern freedom seekers, such as the Gullah/Geechee and Black Seminole communities. Other conference topics include stories of southern freedom seekers during the War of 1812 and the American Civil War, in commemoration of the 200th and 150th anniversaries, respectively. Gullah Geechee and Black Seminole descendants are particularly welcome to give presentations at and attend the conference. The conference will culminate with a cultural festival highlighting traditional crafts, language, music, and foodways. For more information about the Network to Freedom Program and Underground Railroad conferences, see http://www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/community/annual-conference.html, or contact Turkiya L. Lowe, Ph.D., at turkiya_lowe@nps.gov, (404) 507-5830.

Current Events

The National Park Service, National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program

The National Park Service, National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program is proud to present the 6th annual National Underground Railroad Conference in St. Augustine, Florida, June 20-24, 2012. The conference theme is the resistance to slavery through escape and flight to and from the South, including through international flight, from the 16th century to the end of the Civil War. This conference will explore how southern freedom seekers seized opportunities to escape slavery into Spanish Florida, the Caribbean Islands, Indian Territory, Texas, and Mexico.

The conference will also explore how the Underground Railroad shaped the culture of southern freedom seekers, such as the Gullah/Geechee and Black Seminole communities. Other conference topics include stories of southern freedom seekers during the War of 1812 and the American Civil War, in commemoration of the 200th and 150th anniversaries, respectively.

Gullah Geechee and Black Seminole descendants are particularly welcome to give presentations at and attend the conference. The conference will culminate with a cultural festival highlighting traditional crafts, language, music, and foodways.

For more information about the Network to Freedom Program and Underground Railroad conferences, see http://www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/community/annual-conference.html, or contact Turkiya L. Lowe, Ph.D., at turkiya_lowe@nps.gov, (404) 507-5830.