The First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Statue has been accepted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom! The statue located on the Bates County Courthouse lawn in Butler, MO is now one of the 800 Network to Freedom locations. The First Kansas Colored Infantry Statue was nominated by the Bates County Historical Society. To see all locations and obtain more information about the program, visit https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
Network to Freedom’s mission is to honor, preserve and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight. Underground Railroad History continues to inspire people worldwide. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom advances the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression. The program is a catalyst for innovation and partnerships that share the diverse legacy of the Underground Railroad across generations. The program works in collaboration with local, state and federal entities, as well as individuals and organizations to create a “network” of sites, facilities, and programs with a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad. Together, sites, programs, and facilities are referred to as Network to Freedom Listings. The people that manage these sites, programs, and facilities are known as Network to Freedom Members. Currently, the Network to Freedom consists of over 800 listings in 40 states, plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Courtesy Bates County Museum
