The Village of North Randall hosted a Black History Month celebration for residents and neighbors on February 22nd, 2024, by inviting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to perform their Underground Railroad play. Mayor David Smith opened this celebratory event to North Randall, Bedford Heights, Maple Heights, Oakwood, and Warrensville Heights residents; guests also enjoyed food catering from Pita Potle, a local restaurant in North Randall, OH.

The play told the story of Cuyahoga Valley’s tie to the Underground Railroad. According to nationalparkservice.gov, “From the birth of our nation until the Civil War, the Underground Railroad transported people of color from slavery toward freedom. Not an actual train, the Underground Railroad was a system of secret routes fanning away in all directions from slave states. It involved many courageous individuals: each enslaved person who tried to escape or who offered food and direction, freedom seekers who returned south to help others flee, and free Blacks and Whites who provided assistance. Cuyahoga Valley National Park interprets Ohio’s Underground Railroad heritage because a centerpiece of our park, the Ohio & Erie Canal, was a likely route.”

Thank you to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for sharing the story of the Trail to Freedom. To learn about more programs by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, click here.