Exhibitions

Special Exhibition Gallery

ThroughDarknesstoLight_WebBanners-V2withLogo4

Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad | Open in-person and virtually | January 28–March 19

Many consider the Underground Railroad to be the first great freedom movement in the Americas and the first time when people of different races and faiths worked together in harmony for freedom and justice. Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales has spent more than a decade meticulously researching “fugitive” slaves and the ways they escaped to freedom. From the cotton plantations south of Natchitoches, Louisiana, all the way north to the Canadian border, this series of photographs helps us imagine what the long road to freedom may have looked like as seen through the eyes of one of those who made this epic journey. Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad encourages visitors to learn more, ask questions, and open a dialogue on the subject, and in the end, provide a better understanding of our origins. This exhibition features beautifully dramatic color photographs, ephemera, and narratives that together tell the story of the Underground Railroad.

Photographer credit: ©Jeanine Michna-Bales

This exhibition was organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Plan Your Visit Related Events Virtual Exhibit