The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is one step closer to having $7 million in construction funding for the next fiscal year.

        The U.S. House of Representatives passed an appropriations act Tuesday, 348-69, which included funding for Cincinnati's $90 million Freedom Center. The federal funds are contingent on the Freedom Center providing non-federal matching funds.

John Fleming

        “It truly gives us national standing,” said John Fleming, director of the center, which begins construction in 2002 on the Cincinnati waterfront. “It means the federal government considers this a significant national project.”

        The Interior bill contains spending authorization of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Act, which overwhelmingly passed the House in July. These provisions will:

        • Authorize up to $16 million in construction funding for the Freedom Center over the next four years.

        • Release $1 million in construction funding that was provided in last year's Interior spending bill.

        • Authorize $2.5 million per year for the Interior Department to use for grants to preserve and protect key historic sites nationwide associated with the Underground Railroad.

        The Senate is expected to consider the legislation later this week.

        The museum is intended as a tribute to the Underground Railroad — a network of African-Americans and abolitionists who helped slaves escape from the South to freedom in the North before the Civil War.

        “This is good news for the Cincinnati Freedom Center,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, who worked to secure the funding. “This limited matching federal funding will help the Freedom Center to accomplish its mission.”

        While Freedom Center organizers cross their fingers that the act meets final approval, they are putting the finishing touches on the museum's design and architecture. It's part of a massive, $2 billion riverfront face lift.

        The Freedom Center's Board of Trustees is expected to give final approval to the development and design plans for the museum Nov.16.

        Over the past six weeks, organizers have met to discuss the museum's exhibits. A recent change in plans will expand the exhibit space from 28,000 square feet to 44,000 square feet. Organizers plan to add an exhibit area that will concentrate on contemporary issues of freedom.

        Mr. Fleming said the museum will include an area called the Great Hall, which will accommodate performances and receptions in the center. On the east side will be a cafe downstairs and the first, permanent exhibit area called “Freedom, Slavery, Freedom” upstairs.

        This exhibit will carry visitors from pre-Colonial America to slavery and through the Civil War.

        “In the exhibit will be a storied theater where people can gain an understanding of the experience of runaway slaves,” Mr. Fleming said.

        The second permanent exhibit section will be called “The Struggle Continues,” where visitors will be brought to contemporary times. The issues will extend to human and civil rights to all people in the United States. Another area will treat civil rights issues of people worldwide.

        All of this will set the stage for a dialogue room where patrons can talk with Freedom Center staff and each other about what they experienced.

        While organizers want visitors to gain an understanding of history, they want to impress on them that they have a responsibility to protect freedom.

        “We're asking people to actually commit to doing something when they leave the Freedom Center,” Mr. Fleming said.

        Groundbreaking is expected in 2002 and the grand opening on the riverfront between Walnut and Vine streets in 2004.

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