The official launch of the Kansas African-American History Trail will be held in Wichita this week.
Eight sites across Kansas have been selected as charter members that depict black history, including an underground railroad passage and a cabin that once was the headquarters for abolitionist John Brown.
Ted Ayres serves as board director for The Kansas African American Museum and project coordinator for the grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He says each site speaks volumes about African-American history.
"You can go and whether it’s 15 minutes or 30 minutes or an hour, two hours," he says, "you're going to be absorbed and learn a lot about our state and its role in American history and African American history."
Ayres says the official launch will provide more details about the trail concept and its purpose, as well as give information about each of the current sites along the trail — in Osawatomie, Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Nicodemus, Fort Scott and Wichita.
The launch event is at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at The Kansas African American Museum in Wichita.
Carla Eckels is director of cultural diversity and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.
