Jeannie Regan Dinius

SYRACUSE — A big day for learning about some Indiana history is May 8. Syracuse Public Library and the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum are hosts for two presentations by Jeannie Regan-Dinius Tuesday, May 8.

A presentation on the Symbols in the Syracuse Library will take place at 1 p.m. at the Syracuse Public Library, 115 E. Main St., Syracuse

The Underground Railroad in Indiana will be presented at 6 p.m. at the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum, in the Syracuse Community Center, North Long Drive, Syracuse.

Regan-Dinius is an expert on the cemeteries in Indiana, having done surveys of all of them as part of her job with the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources.

The term “Underground Railroad” brings visions of hidden passages and furtive activities in the dark of night, but comes from the status of aiding slaves out of slavery when it was considered an illegal activity. There is documentation Indiana was an active web of routes on the road to freedom before emancipation freed slaves in 1863. Regan-Dinius will show how research reveals some of this history.

A map of historic buildings on Main Street in Syracuse and key features in the Syracuse Cemetery will be available for self-guided tours beginning Thursday, May 3. Docents will lead groups from the library, following the cemetery presentation May 8. No registration is required to attend these free events.