Familiar communities hold stories many of us have never heard. Discover their connections to the Underground Railroad during a free conference Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Clinton campus.
 
Speakers from Clinton, Camanche, DeWitt, Fulton, Polo, Port Byron and surrounding communities will bring local history into focus through photographs, research and stories. Together, their presentations will explore the region’s role in the Underground Railroad and the people and places connected to the pursuit of freedom.
 
Hosted by the Clinton Community College Cultural Committee and Clinton History Club, the conference will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the college auditorium, 1000 Lincoln Blvd. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
 
“Learning brings people together, and that’s what we hope this event will do,” said Mardell Mommsen, a member of the Clinton Community College Cultural Committee. “We’re excited to welcome our neighbors to EICC to discover local stories and better understand how our communities fit into the larger history of the Underground Railroad.”
 
The gathering offers a chance to look beyond individual towns and see how their histories connect. Attendees will hear lesser-known accounts, learn about local research and gain a deeper understanding of this chapter in American history close to home.
Everyone is welcome, from longtime history enthusiasts to students and neighbors curious about the region's history. The conference is free and open to the public.
 
For more information, contact Mardell Mommsen at 563-244-7006.