State Historic Site awarded two community honors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paige Southerland, 317.234.5078, [email protected]

FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. — The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is proud to announce that the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site has recently received two awards. The site was awarded the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Community Improvement Exemplary Award. Two long-term volunteers will be awarded the Ohio River National Freedom Corridor Bold Courage Award.

The site received the Exemplary Award for their commitment to the community. The honor celebrates county businesses and organizations that have worked toward making Wayne County a beautiful place to live, work and play. Other nominees included Cope Environmental Center, Earlham College, IU East and Reid Health.

“It means a tremendous deal to us to have received these awards from the Wayne County community,” said Laura Minzes, associate vice president of historic sites. “Community support helped accomplish this long-term project and to be recognized for it makes us very proud. A lot of thought and effort was put into the Interpretive Center project and its importance in placing the Coffins within the context of both Indiana and United States history.”

Janice McGuire and Saundra Jackson, sisters who have dedicated themselves to the site for nearly 40 years, are set to receive the Bold Courage Award at the Ohio River National Freedom Corridor annual conference on Saturday, Sept. 30 in Richmond, Ind. The award is being given in recognition of their lifetime efforts to promote and preserve local Underground Railroad history.

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The Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site is located on U.S. 27 in Fountain City. Part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, the eight-room home was known as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad, helping shelter hundreds of Freedom Seekers. The home has been listed as one of the nation’s top 25 must-see Historic Sites and features an Interpretive Center that explores the Coffin story and Indiana’s role in the Underground Railroad. For more information, call 765.847.1691 or visit indianamuseum.org/levicoffin.