The author of a noted biography of Harriet Tubman was the featured speaker at an event to celebrate an important facet of our region's history in the Underground Railroad movement. The event, held Feb. 4 at Niagara University's Castellani Art Museum, also commemorated the recent establishment of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area Commission and the work of the North Star Advisory Committee.

Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, author of "Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero," offered a public lecture on Harriet Tubman and her importance to the Underground Railroad movement. Following her talk, Dr. Larson moderated a roundtable discussion focusing on the process for preserving our local history and ensuring accessibility to the public. Participants included:

• Dr. Milton Sernett, Professor Emeritus of African American Studies and History at Syracuse University
• Dr. Lillian Williams, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies at the University at Buffalo
• Dr. Keith Griffler, Associate Professor in the Department of African and African American Studies at UB
• Kevin Cottrell, Project Coordinator of the North Star Initiative
• Dr. William H. Siener, public historian and independent scholar

The event, sponsored by the Niagara University history department, the City of Niagara Falls, and Key Bank, provided an evening of education and discussion on a fascinating topic commensurate with the efforts of the commission to create the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area.