Pieces of history are unveiled through artist Ted Fickisen’s drawings in pen and ink, and in graphite of Underground Railroad sites, including many found in Columbus and Chillicothe.Fickisen’s works combine seven pen and ink drawings, and two graphite drawings of Underground Railroad sites throughout Ohio, including the Kelton House (Columbus), the “Tanglewood” house (Chillicothe), the South Salem Academy and Eden Baptist Church.The illustrations are accompanied by historical descriptions documenting the significance of each location. Fickisen is best known for his illustrations of early Americana and historic landmarks. He resides in Chillicothe, a city rich with history of the Underground Railroad.”He visited all (nine) of the historical sites,” said Carole Genshaft, director of education at the Columbus Museum of Art. “A lot of sites from Chillicothe can be seen in his display.”Fickisen’s need to draw history was stirred through the changes his hometown was going through.”Chillicothe went through a period where older buildings were being torn down,” said Fickisen. “The only way to preserve the buildings’ history was on paper.”Fickisen has always been interested in preserving the past through his drawings. After being approached by Beverly Gray, the coordinator for the Southern Region of the Underground Railroad Association and educator in the Chillicothe School System, he began photographing the sites and recording them in pen and ink, and in graphite.”Beverly knew my love for historic events,” said Fickisen. “She asked me to visit some of the sites (in Chillicothe), and I did – and loved it.”Gray’s interest in the Underground Railroad coils around her 30-year involvement in African-American history and her family experiences. She worked with Fickisen on the history of the Underground Railroads.”I wanted (Fickisen) to experience the sight slaves saw,” said Gray. “To explore the banks the slaves scrambled down to reach their freedom.””Tanglewood,” Fickisen’s first historical drawing in the series of the Underground Railroad done in 1997, is a Greek, revival-style house built in 1826. Slaves secretly stayed in the attic and in tunnels under the house. The house still stands in Chillicothe.The Kelton House, his most recent work in the series done in 1999, is located a few blocks from the Columbus Museum of Art on Town Street. The house was built in 1852 and used as a hiding place for fugitive slaves on their way to Canada. Today the Kelton House is a museum.”All of Ted’s drawings are great,” said Gray. “But the drawings of the Underground Railroad sites are inspirational.”Fickisen’s first commission was a drawing of a house, and it gradually became a chain reaction. He continues to draw houses, churches and other requests people have.Fickisen’s drawings are on display in the Nationwide Studio within “Eye Spy: Adventures in Art” at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St, through Feb. 28. For more information, call the museum at 221-6801.