On Friday, March 16, almost 300 students from Walnut Springs Middle School visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pupils learned about the roots of the Underground Railroad and gained a better understanding of the economic impact of slave labor, the value of cotton and the influence of slave labor on society. Some experiences included watching a movie about the influence of John Parker and Reverend John Rankin; standing in a real slave pen owned by John W. Anderson; and learning about the impact the cotton gin had on the advancement of slavery. The field trip was made possible by a grant from the State Library of Ohio.