The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission is excited to announce that they have received a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant to research Underground Railroad and anti-slavery activities in Muscatine and throughout Muscatine County.
Any resident interested in learning more about this project is invited to a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, September 30 in the council chambers at Muscatine City Hall (215 Sycamore St). Project consultant Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting, Cedar Rapids, will present information on the project.
The goal of the project is to research and document Underground Railroad and anti-slavery activities in Muscatine and Muscatine County, as well as identify places in the county connected with this history. The project will begin with information previously gathered through the Iowa Freedom Trail Project and by the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
The project will focus on further researching local events, names, and places to expand on the historical record and create a comprehensive report for information on the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery activities in the county.
The project will position the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission to undertake future nominations for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for extant properties identified as eligible as related to this aspect of their history. Additionally, sites that might be potential applications for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom will also be identified. Unlike the NRHP, locations of activities related to freedom seekers with or without an extant property may be listed under this program.
The Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission and Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation will partner with the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission to complete this project. Volunteers from these organizations will conduct part of the research for the project to document information from historic newspapers, census records, county and local histories, and other sources.
Any resident interested in volunteering for this project is invited to attend the public meeting to learn more about the project and how to become involved. The public meeting on Monday, September 30 will be followed by training for any resident interested in volunteering to assist with the project.