In celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the B&O Railroad Museum is honored to welcome the Union Baptist Church
BALTIMORE, MD – January 11, 2023 – In celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the B&O Railroad Museum is honored to welcome the Union Baptist Church for special programming on Sunday, Jan. 15th in observance of MLK holiday weekend. The Museum will also offer special tours of its new exhibit – The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad.
On Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m., Reverend Montgomery of the Union Baptist Church will lead the church’s choir for a performance, which will include some select songs made during the time period of the Underground Railroad. A public tour of The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad will follow directly after.
“There is a very special connection between the B&O Railroad and the Union Baptist Church that we are honored to celebrate each year with a special performance of the Union Baptist Church choir as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday,” says Kris Hoellen, Executive Director of the B&O Railroad Museum.
The weekend of celebration schedule:
Sunday, Jan. 15
– 11:30 AM: Train Ride
– 10 – 2 PM: Educational activities for children in the Roundhouse
– 1 PM: Train Ride
– 2 – 3 PM: Union Baptist Choir and Children’s Choir special performance on the B&O’s historic roundtable
– 3 PM: The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Public Tour
Monday, Jan. 16
– 10 AM – 1 PM: Educational activities for children in the Roundhouse
– 12 PM: Train Ride
– 1 – 1:30 PM: From Slavery to Civil Rights public tour
The B&O Railroad Museum plans to continue to host events and activities related to its The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad exhibit through July of 2023. Last year, the Museum organized a food tasting centered around Henry “Box” Brown’s culinary journey as well as a performance from master storyteller Diane Macklin. This year’s programming includes live performances, lectures and discussions, and a free documentary screening in February for Black History Month. Details for 2023 programming will be announced soon.
For more information on the B&O’s MLK Weekend Celebration, visit https://borail.events/MLK
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About the B&O Railroad Museum
The B&O Railroad Museum, the birthplace of American railroading, located in Baltimore, Maryland is a full affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site. It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American society, culture, and economy. The museum is home to the oldest, most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere including an unparalleled roster of 19th and 20th century railroad equipment, the 1851 Mt. Clare Station, the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse and first mile of commercial railroad track in America. In 2019, the museum welcomed guests from all 50 states and 40 countries. For further information on the B&O Railroad Museum, please call 410-752-2490 or visit www.borail.org.
About Union Baptist Church
The Union Baptist Church has a proud history of involvement in the civil rights movement, dating back to 1892 when pastor Dr. Harvey Johnson, a friend of W.E.B. DuBois, withdrew the church from the Maryland Baptist Union Association due to discrimination and went on to organize the Colored Baptist Convention. The withdrawal effectively made Union Baptist the first independent African American Baptist church in Maryland.
