A new app is bringing the history and stories of the Underground Railroad to life.
America’s River Roots Experience, Inc. — the team organizing the America’s River Roots Festival coming to Cincinnati this October to kick off the United States’ 250th anniversary — with help from the Cincinnati Museum Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, developed the app, Freedom Journey. Freedom Journey offers a powerful new storytelling platform that explores the accounts of courage and resistance along the Underground Railroad, featuring over 160 points of interest along the Ohio River, including historic sites and people.
The immersive, GPS-based app is free and offers a historically accurate guide that traces the routes of people seeking freedom and Underground Railroad conductors in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, as well as exclusive content.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring untold stories to life, all digitally connected,” co-founders Rick Greiwe, Kelly Kolar and Tim Fogarty said in a press release. “We’re honored to collaborate with cultural institutions to illuminate the river’s role in shaping America’s path to freedom.”
The trail begins at the Freedom Center and follows the Ohio River to places like New Richmond, Ripley, Portsmouth and Marietta, as well as spots in Northern Kentucky and western West Virginia. Along the way, users can learn more about notable people like Levi Coffin, Sarah Fossett and John Rankin, as well as historic sites like Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Ripley’s Rankin House.
While you can customize your route using the “Build Your Own Freedom Journey” tool, the app also offers curated tours:
- The Heart of Freedom (3 hours)
- Crossing Boundaries (full day)
- Along the Journey (2 days)
“By tracing the path of Freedom Seekers and operatives, we preserve and deepen our experience with American history. This region’s past connects us to our humanity, here in the heart of it all,” said Holly Brians Ragusa, Freedom Journey’s content director and America’s River Roots advisory board member. “This platform compels us to honor and engage with these stories. I’m proud to have worked so closely with the expert teams at the Freedom Center and Cincinnati Museum Center to carry this knowledge forward to inspire future generations.”
Freedom Journey’s launch also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the National Underground Freedom Center.
“The Freedom Journey app brings history to life,” said Woody Keown, president and CEO of the Freedom Center. “It allows users to walk in the footsteps of heroes and experience the impact of the Underground Railroad in a new way.”
You can download the app from both the App Store and Google Play.
Learn more about America’s River Roots Festival here.
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This article appears in May 28 – Jun 10, 2025.
