The Myers Residence is Closed
2025-12-31 - 2026-01-03 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence will be closed from Wednesday, December 31, 2025 through Saturday, January 3, 2026 so that our hardworking staff can enjoy some family time. Hope your holidays are pleasant!
From all of us at UREC to you and your family – happy holidays!

Game On at the New York State Museum!
2026-01-02 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | New York Sate Museum, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York, 12230
Grab your friends and meet us on January 2nd between 2–5 PM for Gametime on the 4th floor (at the NY State Museum)!
Spend the afternoon hanging out, playing interactive games like Head to Head, Ideals and Images, My Fellow Citizens, and Where Do You Stand? — all inspired by the Smithsonian Voices and Votes exhibit before it closes on January 9.
Come play, explore, and see what your voice can do!

"The Spirit of Philadelphia: A Call to Recover the Founding Principles” - a conversation with Chris Gibson
2026-01-04 14:00 - 15:00 | New York Sate Museum, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York, 12230
Author Chris Gibson, whose resume includes US Army officer, former U.S. Representative, and retired Siena College President will be speaking about key concepts from his book The Spirit of Philadelphia – A Call to Recover the Founding Principles.
This includes: Has the United States strayed from the founding principles? Is voting still important?
Erica Smitka, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New York State will interview him and moderate questions from the audience.
The event is hosted by the Leagues of Women Voters of Rensselaer County and Albany County.
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/4fxw2cbv to ensure sufficient seating.
Contact Joan Rogers or MaryKate Owens, lwvac@lwvalbany.org, 518-545-4860 with questions.
Also plan to tour the interactive Smithsonian exhibit Voices and Votes before or after the program. It highlights the history of participatory democracy.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit hosted by Underground Railroad Education Center in collaboration with the New York State Musuem. The exhibit is located on the 4th floor terrace level of the New York State Museum.

Teen Museum Studies Program - looking for participants
2026-01-07 16:00 - 19:00 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Proactively responding to Shirley Chisholm’s comment that, “If they don’t welcome you to the table, bring a folding chair,” UREC has designed an out-of-school teen program intending to prepare teens to democratize and diversify the museum field.
All High School Juniors and Seniors are invited to take a deep dive into the world of museums, analyzing the purposes of museums, their relationships with communities, the myriad job positions available at museums, researching and curating exhibits ,and more. If you know a teen interested in participating in this enriching, life-changing program, please have them contact Lacey Wilson, Project Manager, at Laceyw.urec@gmail.com.
The program will run through the 2025-2026 school year, with a summer immersion experience, and continue through the 2026-2027 school year.
Teens meet every Wednesday from 4-7pm and on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am-1pm at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence located at 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany.
The QR code above will provide access to a google form providing teens the opportunity to indicate their interest in the Teen Museum Studies Program.

Collections committee - working meeting
2026-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Join with interested community volunteers to help preserve UREC collections. No experience necessary. Instructions provided as needed. This working meeting will be held in person at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence. See you there!

Tour Experiences at The Myers Residence
2026-01-10 12:00 - 16:00 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Call ahead to schedule your tour at The Myers Residence.
Saturday tours are hosted at 12:30pm and 2:00pm.
Admission payments can be made online at https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/tours/ or at The Myers Residence via cash, check, and credit card.
Don’t forget to check out Myers Mercantile while at The Residence where you will find great books, puzzles, magnets, jewlery, and more.
Tour experiences can be scheduled on weekday evenings for individuals and family groups, as well as during the daytime for groups of 10 or more. Calling ahead to discuss scheduling is essential in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. The Myers Residence is the current base of operations for UREC, which means The Residence provides space for our experiences, workshops, progams, events, meetings, and work space for staff.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America - dismantling volunteers needed
2026-01-12 10:00 - 17:00
The exhibit, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, must come down on Monday, January 12. Join us for an hour or more to help dismantle and repack all the pieces of this incredible exhibit so it can be shipped on to its next ‘port of call’.
Dismantling will begin at 10am on the 4th floor of the New York State Musuem. Join us for an hour or more. Lunch will be provided. Call 518-621-7793 to let us know you will be joining in the fun.
See you there!

Over the Edge – UREC’s urban rappelling event – join in the planning!
2026-01-12 17:00 - 18:00 | Hybrid – 194 Livingston Avenue and via Zoom
Join in the planning and implementation of this fun and unique event! Over the Edge urban rappelling event (https://overtheedgeglobal.com/) is holding its full committee planning sessions on Monday, Janaury 12 at 5pm with our partner the YWCA of Troy.
We need folks who are interested in working on marketing of this event, recruiting rappelers, recruiting sponsors, and planning the on-the-ground activities on the day of the event.
Interested? Call Mary Liz Stewart at 518-621-7793 or use the Contact Us page on the UREC website.
This is a hyrbid meeting.

The Myers Residence is closed on MLK Day
2026-01-19 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Please join with others in your local community to honor Dr. King and to commit to continuing the work for justice to which he dedicated his life.

National Day of Racial Healing
2026-01-20
Today is the 10th annual National Day of Racial Healing that is sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Click HERE to access more information on the Kellog website. Many events are being held around the country. Perhaps you would like to collaborate with UREC in 2027 to host an event?

The Myers Residence is closed for Presidents' Day
2026-01-24, 2026-02-16 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence will be closed on Presidents’ Day. We wish you a pleasant Presidents’ Day and look forward to seeing you soon!

In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School
2026-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz begin their presentation with an explanation of the title, the motivation for writing the book, and our partnership’s origins. The talk focuses on several abolitionists – white and Black, male and female – who epitomize the spirit of DEFIANCE.
Throughout, we seek to make connections to the current repression and the need for on-going defiance to withstand the onslaught to our rights being abridged and denied. For example, there are forty-four states with legislation – either pending or passed – to prevent “divisiveness”, stifle speech and whitewash history. Our Abolitionists sought to do the very opposite. We emphasize the need to honor and celebrate their accomplishments as well as the courage and determination their efforts required. Our goal is to inform and to inspire.
Tom Weiner is a Northampton-based writer, educator, and anti-racism activist who taught for 40 years at Smith College Campus School and co-facilitated workshops on
developing healthy boys. He also initiated efforts for a Reparations Commission in
Northampton, MA.
Dr. Amilcar Shabazz is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and
former president of the National Council for Black Studies. A renowned scholar and
commentator, he has worked internationally and guided Amherst’s African Heritage Reparations Assembly in establishing one of the U.S.’s first funded reparative justice processes.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Registration for ZOOM meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eZUtaZBLQdinoQvuFZ51Fw#/registration

UREC tabling at Southgate Elementary Multicultural Festival
2026-01-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Southgate Elementary School, 30 southgate Road, Latham, NY, 12110
Pay a visit to UREC’s table at Southgate Elementary School’s Multicultural Festival. Enjoy the festivities. See you there!

Albany County Legislative Black Caucus Black History Museum
2026-02-06 11:00 - 13:00 | Harold L. Joyce Albany County Office Building, 112 State Street, Albany, NY, 12207
Join the Albany County Legislative Black Caucus and Community members to celebrate Black History month on Friday, February 6 from 11am-1pm in the Cahill Room at 112 State Street, Albany, NY.

UREC will have on display its exhibit titled Working the Waters: Black Mariners on the Hudson River 1800s.

Tour Experiences at The Myers Residence - a new interpretation of an old story
2026-02-07 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-14 12:00 - 16:00 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Call ahead to schedule your tour at The Myers Residence.
Saturday tours are hosted at 12:30pm and 2:00pm.
Admission payments can be made online at https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/tours/ or at The Myers Residence via cash, check, and credit card.
Don’t forget to check out Myers Mercantile while at The Residence where you will find great books, puzzles, jewlery, and more.
Tour experiences can be scheduled on weekday evenings for individuals and family groups, as well as during the daytime for groups of 10 or more. Calling ahead to discuss scheduling is essential in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. The Myers Residence is the current base of operations for UREC, which means The Residence provides space for tour experiences, workshops, programs, events, meetings, and work space for staff.

The UGRR: a New Interpretation of an Old Story (Virtual)
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
The Underground Railroad, often remembered as being characterized by tunnels, dark of night escapes, coded language and hidey-holes, was far more extensive and complex than these ideas have led us to believe. In the midst of significant pro-slavery sentiment, New York State was home to many abolitionists working to abolish the institution of slavery in our state and nation and it was visited by many who had escaped enslavement and sought a life of freedom. Join with the Paul and Mary Liz Stewart as they share a new interpretation of a very old story.
Zoom link for this virtual presentation:
Time: Feb 10, 2026 06:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82987520402?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 829 8752 0402
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Teen Museum Studies Program - join in
2026-02-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-18 16:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-25 16:00 - 19:00 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Sign up to be part of this unique out-of-school program for high school juniors and seniors. Be an agent of change! Prepare yourself to democratize and diversify the museum field!
Meet with other teens at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence every Wednesday from 4pm-7pm and on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am-1pm. Light refreshments will be provided.
Interested? Contact Lacey Wilson, Project Manager, at Laceyw.urec@gmail.com.

The Underground Railroad: There's More to the Story
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
As the first civil rights movement in the country, the Underground Railroad is so much more than we have been led to believe. Join with Paul and Mary Liz Stewart to take a deeper dive into this transformative period in American history that is related with us today, and learn about the efforts to expand their work.
Visit https://schenectadyhistorical.org/event/stewart/ for more information. This is a virtual event.

Young Abolitionist Leadership Institute (YALI After School)
2026-02-12 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-02-19 15:30 - 17:00 | Albany High School, 700 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, 12203
Continuing UREC’s tradition of programming that promotes collaboration, literary and research skills in our high school participants, teen participants, led by UREC facilitators, will learn local Underground Railroad history and create innovative, multimedia educational experiences targeted to their age group. The teens will take on the role of consultant with UREC to address a need for programming that is more appealing to teens. Through the process of project development, teens will advance skills in research, attention to detail, analysis, and critical thinking.
Teens will start learning the process of researching and interpreting local Underground Railroad history through the creation of a collection of non-fiction, historical short comic stories. They will later explore these research and interpretation skills through other mediums, including performance and documentary filmmaking. This is a unique opportunity for the teens to dictate how UREC’s history and mission can best be constructed for a youth audience while learning transferable skills for their future careers. This teen-led process will encourage growth in adaptability, professionalism, attention to detail, time-management, and public speaking as they determine how the project takes shape.
By creating comics for younger audiences, participants will learn to balance creative choices and primary source information. By exploring creative methods for telling local stories of the underground railroad, students will gain pride by retelling local history to audiences made up of their peers and community members. Staff will facilitate exercises emphasizing teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. Teens will utilize collaborative skills as they plan and execute daily objectives as they work towards their larger goals.
YALI Meets every Thursday from 3:30-5pm at Albany High School. Contact Marcus Kwame Anderson at 518-621-7793 or at marcus.urec08@gmail.com for information on how to participate.

The Underground Railroad Revisited: a New Interpretation of an Old Story
2026-02-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Avenue
The Underground Railroad, often remembered as being characterized by tunnels, dark of night escapes, coded language and hidey-holes, was far more extensive and complex than these ideas have led us to believe. Join with Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, independent researchers, as they bring their seminal research on the Underground Railroad movement to the public.
This is an in-person event. Registration is required.
Visit https://guilderland.librarycalendar.com/event/underground-railroad-educational-center-40923 for more information and registration.

Lift Every Voice: Democratic Engagement Community Conversations – you are invited
2026-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Excelsior’s Center for Social Justice, the Civic Engagement Rope Team, the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) and YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, and the St. Petersburg Florida Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Center are thrilled to invite you to participate in our 2026 democratic engagement dialogue sessions. During each of the virtual sessions, our dialogue will focus on:
— Our collective exploration of the meaning and power of democracy and racial healing as a choice, way of thinking, and a lifestyle.
— Strategies to create and engage in dialogue that transcends difference, disagreement, promotes inclusion, leverages our diversity, and strengthens democracy.
— Concrete actions we could pursue to participate and promote democracy and racial healing in our daily environments.
The democratic engagement dialogue sessions seek to help us reimagine our interactions and conversations, our collective contribution, and our engagement as tools for inclusivity, progress, and democratic resilience.
Please register by clicking HERE
More information available by clicking HERE

World Day of Social Justice
2026-02-20 | Virtual
Observed annually on February 20, the World Day of Social Justice highlights the importance of addressing global challenges such as poverty, exclusion, unemployment, gender inequality, and human rights. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 (A/RES/62/10), this day advocates for social justice as a foundation for peace, equality, and sustainable development worldwide.
Visit https://sdgresources.relx.com/events/world-day-social-justice for more information.
Perhaps you would like to organize an event or program in your community?

Tour Experiences at The Myers Residence - a new interpretation of an old story
2026-02-21 13:00 - 16:00 | The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
Saturday tour on the 3rd Saturday of the month are hosted at 2:00pm.
Admission payments can be made online at https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/tours/ or at The Myers Residence via cash, check, and credit card.
Don’t forget to check out Myers Mercantile while at The Residence where you will find great books, puzzles, jewelry, and more.
Tour experiences can be scheduled on weekday evenings for individuals and family groups, as well as during the daytime for groups of 10 or more. Calling ahead to discuss scheduling is essential in order to avoid scheduling conflicts. The Myers Residence is the current base of operations for UREC, which means The Residence provides space for tour experiences, workshops, programs, events, meetings, and work space for staff.

The Underground Railroad: There's More to the Story
2026-02-23 18:00 - 19:00 | East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY, 12061, United States
As the first civil rights movement in the United States, the Underground Railroad is so much more than we have been led to believe. Join with Paul and Mary Liz Stewart to take a deeper dive into this transformative period in American history that is related with us today.
This is an in-person event. Join us!
Please click HERE for more information and registration.

The Underground Railroad Revisited: a New Interpretation of an Old Story
2026-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Voorheesville Public Library, 51 School Road, Voorheesville, NY, 12186
The Underground Railroad, often remembered as being characterized by tunnels, dark of night escapes, coded language and hidey-holes, was far more extensive and complex than these ideas have led us to believe. In the midst of significant pro-slavery sentiment, New York State was home to many abolitionists working to abolish the institution of slavery in our state and nation, and it was visited by many who had escaped enslavement and sought a life of freedom. Join with the Stewarts as they share a new interpretation of a very old story and explain the various initiatives in which Underground Railroad Education Center is engaged as it works to connect the public with this local history and its relevance for us today.

For more information and registration, please click HERE .
