Underground Railroad Freedom Center Opens Today; Weight Loss Alternative.

(From CNN News)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A major monument to freedom opens today. It's the national Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we want to take you live to Cincinnati now. The center's outreach director, Susan Finster, joins us. Good morning. SUSAN FINSTER, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER: Good morning, Carol. COSTELLO: Tell us what's going to happen this morning. FINSTER: Well, we've got a very exciting day planned. It starts at noon. We have a Festival of Freedom, and our most prominent feature is a children's village. And we have over 100 activities and performances that are going to take on until 9:00 tonight. COSTELLO: And Laura Bush is going to be there as well, right?

FINSTER: Laura Bush will be here tonight to deliver a dialogue with Dr. Spencer Crew (ph), our CEO. COSTELLO: Tell us about some of the darker exhibits on display. FINSTER: Well, of course, slavery did exist around the world, and still exists around the world. We have some slavery freedom that really depicts the darkest period in America with slavery. And, of course, one of our keynote exhibits is our historic slave pen that resided in nearby Kentucky, where it was a home for slaves being transported from the North to the South until they were sold. COSTELLO: Describe that for us. What was that like?

FINSTER: Well, it has to do with the movement of slaves across the country from North to South during the rise of cotton. And actually it is a log cabin. And many years, many of these dotted the landscape. Slaves were held in reserve here until they got enough to float down the river and to take to the slave market. So, really they were holding pens for slaves. COSTELLO: What do you hope that people will get from this as they move through the exhibits?

FINSTER: Well, one of the things that we know that they will understand is that the cooperation and courage that came from the slavery movement will inspire people today to act in their own communities and to take a step forward and stand up for what's right. So, we hope to inspire people through the exhibits and to teach them the true history of slavery. COSTELLO: There is going to be some controversy. There will be protests held outside of the museum today, basically because those people will say that within the city of Cincinnati, not enough has been done to end discrimination the way they see it. How will you handle that?

FINSTER: Well, we had protesters last night as our gala. And, of course, the Freedom Center stands for free speech. So, we'll welcome them and give them their space. And they'll be able to have their protest. COSTELLO: And there are those who would like to go and see the museum. Where in Cincinnati is it? And how much does it cost to get in?

FINSTER: Well, the average price is $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Of course, we have senior discounts. It's located on the banks of the Ohio River between the two stadiums -- our football and baseball stadiums. COSTELLO: And it's located there for another reason as well, because Kentucky was a slave state, and they went across the river to freedom to Ohio, which was not a slave state. FINSTER: That's correct. Kentucky was a slave state, and many slaves escaped…