MILTON, Wis. — There are various sites throughout Wisconsin that played an important role in the Underground Railroad, helping get enslaved people to freedom in the 1800s.

The Milton House is the only one in the state that visitors can tour, and it just got an artistic upgrade.

Connie Bier and Vicki Cottam, who taught art in Milton schools, created a brand-new mosaic inspired by the folk song “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” The two love creating mosaics together, using tiny parts to make a big image.

“[Cottam] would come in and we collaborate on design ideas, materials, sharing materials, sharing tools, and we would just go to work and get it done,” Bier said.

For their latest piece, which hangs in the museum's lobby, they used more than 9,000 custom cut pieces to show a young man making his way to Milton under the night sky. The moon, stars and constellations served as a map for enslaved people traveling north.

“It kept changing when we were working on it, kept evolving and we kept talking and I love it,” Cottam said.

Five years ago, the women created another mosaic in the stairwell to the tunnel that helped many get to freedom in the 1800s. Keighton Los, the executive director of the museum, said the old artifacts mixed with new art enhance the visitor experience.

“These art pieces provide a visual for people that helps them imagine what things were like for freedom seekers, but also allows them to bring their own experiences, their own emotions and viewpoints into the tour and really have a personalized tour as they go through the museum,” she said.

They take a lot of time and effort to create, but Bier and Cottam said the work is worth it, if it can draw more people to the historic site.

“We want to get people to come inside, enjoy the art, listen to the story. Realize what they have, this little gem that they have right here in Milton,” Bier said.