In this article, the author describes the summer institute which she planned through her involvement with the Institute for Freedom Studies at Northern Kentucky University, whose purpose is to promote interdisciplinary research, teaching and community outreach grounded in the study of the Underground Railroad. The purpose of the institute was to study the historical/cultural context of the Underground Railroad in the geographic area of Kentucky and Ohio. The author used a multidisciplinary approach to examine the local history in order to study contemporary issues of freedom, equity, and civil rights. Most of her students were classroom teachers from Ohio and Kentucky. The intent was for the teachers to use the knowledge they gained to make this aspect of the region's unique history come alive for their students. The author discusses the problems involved in teaching this topic and the special significance it has for Kentucky and Ohio teachers.