Underground Railroad SCC Building
Historic Preservation, Cohoes, N.Y.
Signage installed Spring 2010, other exhibition projects ongoing
The Exhibition Alliance has worked with the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and 26 individual sites in the development of exterior signage and interpretive exhibitions for Underground Railroad sites throughout New York State. Each of the 26 sites received a sign with vibrant graphics describing the significance of the historic church, home, or other structure to freedom seekers. Eleven sites received kiosks, panels, and cases detailing Underground Railroad activities in those places, some with the ability to share original artifacts and documents from their collections. Four more substantial interpretive exhibitions were developed for the Gerrit Smith Estate and Smithfield Community Center in Peterboro (open May 2010), The Seward House in Auburn (open August 2010), and the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn (opening pending). Together, these exterior signs, interpretive exhibitions establish a base for tourists to explore this important aspect of New York and U.S. History. TEA worked successfully with a substantial group of professionals and volunteers with New York State and the individual sites, ensuring that the stories told were accurate , vivid, and inspiring. TEA provided research, writing, design, production (including cases, walls, graphics, low-tech interactive components, and audio-visual experiences).
