Rochester is recognizing the impact of African-American figures who changed the history of the country as Black History Month continues.

The Rochester Museum and Science Center's event on Saturday was dedicated to the life of Frederick Douglass.

 

His descendants shared the history of their families connection to Douglass and his effect in Rochester. Their hope was to teach people to look back and see what their families had done, be it big or small, to help the world.

Jacqueline Sprague, whose uncle married Rosetta Douglass Sprague, helped to organize the event.

"To be able to understand their history, a history with black people that frequently is hard to find but once you begin the search it's astronomical on the knowledge you can have and we're grateful that the museum is honoring this will us," said Sprague. 

Frederick Douglass spent 25 years of his life in Rochester. The city celebrated what would have been his 200th birthday last year.