6-03-2025 10:55pm

New Freedom Journey App Brings Underground Railroad History to Life Along the Ohio River

Beth Callahan Editor

Story courtesy of Game Day Communications

A powerful new storytelling platform, the Freedom Journey web app, connects users to the stories of courage and resistance that defined America’s path to freedom along the Ohio River.

Developed by America’s River Roots Experience, Inc. in collaboration with the Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the free GPS-based app highlights more than 160 historic sites and figures across Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, tracing the journeys of Freedom Seekers and conductors on the Underground Railroad.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring untold stories to life, all digitally connected,” said co-founders Rick Greiwe, Kelly Kolar and Tim Fogarty. “We’re honored to collaborate with cultural institutions to illuminate the river’s role in shaping America’s path to freedom.”

The app’s launch coincides with the 30th anniversary of the National Underground Freedom Center. “The Freedom Journey app brings history to life,” said Woody Keown, President & 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.”

The Freedom Journey app is a free GPS-enabled, historically accurate guide tracing the routes of Freedom Seekers along the Ohio River. With over 160 Points of Interest, it highlights key people and places of the Underground Railroad, featuring exclusive content.

Beginning at Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the app extends through Ohio towns like New Richmond, Ripley, Portsmouth, and Marietta, and crosses into Northern Kentucky and western West Virginia.

Users can choose from curated tours – The Heart of Freedom (3 hours), Crossing Boundaries (full day), and Along the Journey (2 days) – or create personalized routes using the Build Your Own Freedom Journey feature.

Users can explore immersive content featuring notable figures like Levi Coffin, Sarah Fossett, and John Rankin, and visit historic sites including Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Ripley’s Rankin House.

“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.” says Holly Brians Ragusa, Freedom Journey App 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.”

The free, web-based app is also available for download on Apple and Google devices. It is a signature initiative of America’s River Roots, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting communities through the rich heritage of America’s inland rivers.

The Freedom Journey app has been made possible by the following donors and contributors: The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, The Mr & Mrs. John J. Strader Fund, The Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial, The Crosset Family Foundation, Thomas J. Emery Memorial Foundation, The National Underground Freedom Center, The Cincinnati Museum Center, Kolar Design, Ministry of Design, HBR Writes and Pigeon-Tech, a Division of SRISYS, Inc. SRISYS, Inc. is the official digital app development partner for America’s River Roots, Inc.

The inaugural America’s River Roots Festival, a celebration of music, culture and cuisine, will be held October 8–12, 2025, along the riverfronts of Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport. Learn more at www.americasriverroots.com.

About America’s River Roots

America's River Roots is a free festival taking place October 8–12, 2025 along the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Sparked by our nation’s 250th, this signature event will celebrate America's river culture, cuisine, music and the region’s unique river roots story. We are a non-profit organization committed to community outreach to inclusively engage wide audiences. More at www.americasriverroots.com.