The Underground Railroad at Niagara Falls

An Informative Exhibit in Collaboration with the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center

On June 19, 2025, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, in conjunction with The Empty Space’s main stage locally written musical Cataract House, the gallery will open to the public for a museum-style exhibition featuring historical information about Black resistance and the beginning of slave liberation that took place in Niagara Falls, NY during the 19th century.

Developed from the archives of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the exhibit offers insight and background about the brave waiters of the Cataract House hotel who lived double lives helping enslaved people brought to the hotel by their Southern slaveholders to escape to freedom in Canada. You will find familiar names like Harriet Tubman, and discover new unsung heroes including John Morrison and Catherine Polk.

Please join us for our opening night Gala event on Thursday, June 19th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to view the exhibit, chat with the director of the play, and ask questions of the author and composer. Complementary light refreshments will be provided, and we encourage you to stay for the show and enjoy the cast meet and greet afterward. The Gala event is free to the public, and tickets for Cataract House are available for purchase at esonline.org.

The Empty Space Gallery is located at 5417 Woodmere Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93313.

SUBMISSIONS:

The Empty Space invites artists to submit proposals for an exhibition of contemporary art in our 1000 sq ft space.  Our gallery gives new and emerging artists as well as seasoned veterans the opportunity to display their works in a professional gallery atmosphere. Portfolios can be submitted electronically or appointments can be made with gallery director, Jesus Fidel at tesartgallery@gmail.com.