The Old Dillard Museum 2013 Florida Emancipation Day Celebration will feature the theme; "Freedom in Florida: Before the Undergroun Railroad." Much of Florida’s history as a haven for maroons is overshadowed by its saga as a part of the United States. Yet as the state looks at 500 years of its history since the landing of Ponce de Leon, the Old Dillard Museum looks to recall the pathways to “Freedom in Florida: Before the Underground Railroad.” We will not overlook the Underground Railroad and the many Americans who fought for the abolition of slavery before and during the Civil War, but there is so much more to the story to explore. Old Dillard Museum Emancipation Day Mini Festival will feature; jazz performances, African dance, vendors and exhibits.