Freedom Bus Opens at Minnetrista with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Family Adventure Day

By Brea Cunningham—

MUNCIE, IN—From the streets of Muncie to the wider world, the fight for civil rights has always included the voices of East Central Indiana. This fall, those voices have a new home. It looks like an ordinary city bus from the outside, but step inside and you’ll discover the extraordinary stories of neighbors, leaders, and families who stood at the frontlines of the civil rights movement. On Wednesday, October 8, at 10:30 a.m., Minnetrista Museum & Gardens invites the community to the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Freedom Bus—an immersive museum on wheels dedicated to remembering the past and inspiring the future.

The Freedom Bus

Now located at Minnetrista, the Freedom Bus is a former Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) bus transformed into a mobile civil rights museum. Inside, visitors encounter the courageous stories of local citizens who stood up and spoke out for equality, connecting their voices and struggles to the broader national movement for justice.

“As the Facilitator of the Freedom Bus project, I am incredibly excited about our partnership with Minnetrista Museum & Gardens,” said Beth Messner, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Ball State University. “It’s so special to see the work of many highly creative and passionate Ball State students being made available to the public once again. The Freedom Bus is a very unique community resource. As a vehicle designed to share stories of civil rights activism across East Central Indiana, it plays a central role in bringing to light important dimensions of our region’s forgotten history. It helps visitors understand that the struggle for civil rights wasn’t just a southern struggle, but that members of our community faced similar struggles and demonstrated great resilience. The stories found on the Freedom Bus help us learn from our past and celebrate the commitment to achieving equal rights for all.”

The objectives of the Freedom Bus are:

to connect students to local civil rights history
to share stories of civil rights activism in East Central Indiana counties
to inspire a desire for and a willingness to work toward civil rights for all East Central Indiana residents through democratic processes
to generate dialogue between children, teachers, and parents about civil and human rights in East Central Indiana

The Freedom Bus is a project of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Team, a 501 (c)(3) organization located in Muncie, IN, in partnership with Ball State University’s Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, the City of Muncie, and the Muncie Human Rights Commission. Members of the MLK Dream Team are dedicated to Keeping Dr. King’s “dream” alive through community-based programming that promotes civil rights education.

Family Adventure Day

Following the ribbon cutting, guests are encouraged to stay and enjoy Family Adventure Day, a free community event happening October 8 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. across the Minnetrista campus. Families can check in at the Center Building and spend the day exploring seasonal activities designed to blend hands-on learning with lively fun. Pre-registration is highly encouraged.

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens is your year-round gathering place! Born out of the Ball family legacy, Minnetrista connects people, encourages engagement, and improves our community. There is always something new to discover at Minnetrista—from beautiful gardens and unique events to interactive exhibitions and engaging workshops. Whether you’re exploring local history, enjoying hands-on activities, or discovering new art, every adventure is fun, educational, and inspiring. Minnetrista is a place where learning and creativity come together, offering something for everyone to enjoy. For more information about Minnetrista, visit www.minnetrista.net.