Conner Prairie is starting their “Follow the North Star” program again this November. This 90-minute program will show participants what it was like to be a fugitive slave on the Underground Railroad, fleeing to freedom in the north. This isn’t just a lecture or display, but an interactive program where you take on the role of a runaway slave.
Come face-to-face with slave hunters, see fear and hope in the eyes of a fellow runaway and be encouraged by a Quaker family. Truly experience life as a fugitive slave during your journey through one of the most compelling periods in Indiana’s history.
The program has been around since 1998, and Conner Prairie has had 60,000 people participate since it began.
It’s a powerful program that hearkens back to life in the 1860s, showing everyone what life was like. However, Conner Prairie warns that it’s not for everyone, as they will play the role of a runaway slave, walk outside on rough terrain in all kinds of weather — and it’s November, so that can be cold, rain, and even snow and wind — and ordered to lower your gaze, and spoken to in an “abrupt manner.”
The event runs November 3 – 5, 10 – 12, and 17 – 19. The program starts between 7:30 – 8:30, and runs for 90 minutes. It costs $20 for nonmembers and $17 for members. Reservations are required, so be sure to call ahead. Follow the North Star is an ideal event for groups, schools, families, and individuals.
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