st louis underground railroad tour

Monday - Tuesday  |  Closed Wednesday - Sunday  |  10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

*Last entry at 4:30 p.m.

We encourage both Members and guests to purchase tickets in advance online. Tickets sales are card only (cash sales not available).

General Admission

Adults: $16.50 Seniors (60+) : $14 Children ages 3-12: $11.50 Children under 3: Free

*Last entry at 4:30 p.m. *Plan for your visit to be 3-4 hours *Last showing of most exhibit films begins at 4:00 p.m. *Admission discounts available for AAA, active military, students and educators

Combo Ticket

Visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center .

Adults: $20 Seniors (60+): $16 Children ages 3-12: $12 Military: $14

*Combo tickets are only available for purchase in-person. *Combo tickets are valid at reciprocal museum for up to 30 days after purchase. *Operating hours may differ for each museum. *Membership or additional discounts are not applicable on combo tickets. *Group pricing for combo tickets is also available via group sales reservations.

Guided Tours

90 minute guided tours are offered on the 1st Saturday every month.

$10 admission add-on  |  Tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Book online or at check-in*

*Spaces limited. Advanced booking highly recommended.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located in downtown Cincinnati, on the banks of the Ohio River.

Group Bookings

Things to See

Fifth Third Community Days

Enjoy free admission on the fifth and third sunday each month, plus mlk day and juneteenth. made possible through the generous support of the fifth third foundation..

National Park Service adds three St. Louis sites to Underground Railroad network

The National Park Service has added three St. Louis-area locations to its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to commemorate the history of enslaved people who escaped to freedom.

The Tower Grove house at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the burial site of Archer Alexander at St. Peter's Cemetery in Normandy and Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale are now part of the program.

The program, founded in 1998, memorializes sites across the country tied to slavery and the Underground Railroad . The recently added sites join more than 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

“The Network to Freedom commemorates the courage, resilience and creativity of freedom seekers and provides insight to their struggles against oppression,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. "Every listing added to the program moves us closer to telling a more complete and inclusive history of our nation and its quest to form a more perfect union.”

Greenwood volunteers have been working to nominate the cemetery for the past 10 months, Greenwood Cemetery Historian and Archivist Etta Daniels said.

“This designation introduces Greenwood to a more national audience,” Daniels said. “It's also possibly going to allow us to find funding for some of the things that we'd like to do in the future, signage and things like that.”

The predominantly Black cemetery established 1874 is the first Black nonsectarian cemetery in St. Louis and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the burial site of more than 50,000 enslaved people , Black teachers, Buffalo Soldiers and Native Americans. It includes the burial site of Harriet Robinson Scott, Dred Scott’s wife. The two sued for their freedom, which led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 1857 that enslaved African Americans did not have constitutional rights. That ruling was overturned in 1871 after the adoption of the 14th Amendment.

Greenwood’s inclusion in the network is the latest accolade for the cemetery, which last year was honored by the Griot Museum of Black History for its Black Herstory installation.

“To watch where we started from, where we wanted to go, and to watch those types of dreams really just coming to fruition is an incredible experience,” Daniels said.

The three Missouri locations are among 23 additions to the park service’s network. The department accepts nominations twice a year.

It follows the discovery of more information about Archer Alexander, an enslaved man who in 1863 overheard Confederate sympathizers planning to destroy a bridge in St. Charles County used by Union soldiers. He alerted Union troops and later took the Underground Railroad to St. Louis, where he won his freedom.

Alexander died in 1880, but historians had believed he was buried in Clayton because of a book written by Washington University co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot, whom Alexander lived with. Research by St. Charles historian Dorris Keeven-Franke found Alexander is buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Keeven-Franke, who has been following Alexander's story for years, said the designation will help shine more light on his story.

“This way, people that are interested in it and are looking at all these sites, they can know that there is indeed a really important story behind these sites,” she said.

Alexander is buried in an unmarked grave, but Keeven-Franke said a memorial will be completed at the cemetery.

“This memorial will stand across the road from there and share the story of Archer Alexander,” Keeven-Franke said. “Being on the network of freedom now, even more people will become aware of our true story.”

National Park Service adds 3 Missouri sites to Underground Railroad network

Three St. Louis-area locations have been added to the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom for their connections to enslaved people.

The National Park Service has added three St. Louis area locations to is National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to help commemorate the history of enslaved people who escaped to freedom

The Tower Grove house at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the burial site of Archer Alexander at St. Peter's Cemetery in Normandy and Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale are now part of the program.

The program, founded in 1998, memorializes sites across the country tied to slavery and the Underground Railroad . The recently added sites join more than 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

“The Network to Freedom commemorates the courage, resilience and creativity of freedom seekers and provides insight to their struggles against oppression,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. "Every listing added to the program moves us closer to telling a more complete and inclusive history of our nation and its quest to form a more perfect union.”

Greenwood volunteers have been working to nominate the cemetery for the past 10 months, Greenwood Cemetery Historian and Archivist Etta Daniels said.

“This designation introduces Greenwood to a more national audience,” Daniels said. “It's also possibly going to allow us to find funding for some of the things that we'd like to do in the future, signage and things like that.”

The predominantly Black cemetery established 1874 is the first Black non-sectarian cemetery in St. Louis and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also the burial site of more than 50,000 enslaved people , Black teachers, Buffalo Soldiers and Native Americans. It also includes the burial site of Harriet Robinson Scott, Dred Scott’s wife. The two sued for their freedom, which led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 1857 that enslaved African Americans did not have constitutional rights. That ruling was overturned in 1871 after the adoption of the 14th Amendment.

Greenwood’s inclusion in the underground railroad network is the latest accolade for the cemetery, which last year was honored by the Griot Museum of Black History for its Black Herstory installation.

“To watch where we started from, where we wanted to go, and to watch those types of dreams really just coming to fruition is an incredible experience,” Daniels said.

The three Missouri locations are among 23 new additions to the park service’s network. The department accepts nominations twice a year.

It comes as historians have discovered more information about Archer Alexander, an enslaved man, who in 1863 overheard Confederate sympathizers planning to destroy a bridge in St. Charles County used by Union soldiers. He alerted Union troops and later took the Underground Railroad to St. Louis, where he won his freedom.

Alexander died in 1880, but historians had believed he was buried in Clayton because of a book written by Washington University co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot who Alexander lived with. Research by St. Charles Historian Dorris Keeven-Franke found Alexander is buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Keeven-Franke, who has been following Alexander's story for years, said the designation will help shine more light on his story.

“This way, people that are interested in it and are looking at all these sites, they can know that there is indeed a really important story behind these sites,” she said.

Alexander is buried in an unmarked grave but Keeven-Franke said a memorial will be completed at the cemetery.

“This memorial will stand across the road from there and share the story of Archer Alexander,” Keeven-Franke said. “Being on the network of freedom now, even more people will become aware of our true story.”

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National Park Service adds three St. Louis sites to Underground Railroad network

Three St. Louis-area locations have been added to the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom for their connections to enslaved people.

The National Park Service has added three St. Louis-area locations to its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to commemorate the history of enslaved people who escaped to freedom.

The Tower Grove house at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the burial site of Archer Alexander at St. Peter's Cemetery in Normandy and Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale are now part of the program.

The program, founded in 1998, memorializes sites across the country tied to slavery and the Underground Railroad . The recently added sites join more than 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

“The Network to Freedom commemorates the courage, resilience and creativity of freedom seekers and provides insight to their struggles against oppression,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. "Every listing added to the program moves us closer to telling a more complete and inclusive history of our nation and its quest to form a more perfect union.”

Greenwood volunteers have been working to nominate the cemetery for the past 10 months, Greenwood Cemetery Historian and Archivist Etta Daniels said.

“This designation introduces Greenwood to a more national audience,” Daniels said. “It's also possibly going to allow us to find funding for some of the things that we'd like to do in the future, signage and things like that.”

The predominantly Black cemetery established 1874 is the first Black nonsectarian cemetery in St. Louis and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the burial site of more than 50,000 enslaved people , Black teachers, Buffalo Soldiers and Native Americans. It includes the burial site of Harriet Robinson Scott, Dred Scott’s wife. The two sued for their freedom, which led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 1857 that enslaved African Americans did not have constitutional rights. That ruling was overturned in 1871 after the adoption of the 14th Amendment.

Greenwood’s inclusion in the network is the latest accolade for the cemetery, which last year was honored by the Griot Museum of Black History for its Black Herstory installation.

“To watch where we started from, where we wanted to go, and to watch those types of dreams really just coming to fruition is an incredible experience,” Daniels said.

The three Missouri locations are among 23 additions to the park service’s network. The department accepts nominations twice a year.

It follows the discovery of more information about Archer Alexander, an enslaved man who in 1863 overheard Confederate sympathizers planning to destroy a bridge in St. Charles County used by Union soldiers. He alerted Union troops and later took the Underground Railroad to St. Louis, where he won his freedom.

Alexander died in 1880, but historians had believed he was buried in Clayton because of a book written by Washington University co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot, whom Alexander lived with. Research by St. Charles historian Dorris Keeven-Franke found Alexander is buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Keeven-Franke, who has been following Alexander's story for years, said the designation will help shine more light on his story.

“This way, people that are interested in it and are looking at all these sites, they can know that there is indeed a really important story behind these sites,” she said.

Alexander is buried in an unmarked grave, but Keeven-Franke said a memorial will be completed at the cemetery.

“This memorial will stand across the road from there and share the story of Archer Alexander,” Keeven-Franke said. “Being on the network of freedom now, even more people will become aware of our true story.”

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Places of the underground railroad.

The Underground Railroad was a covert and sometimes informal network of routes, safehouses, and resources spread across the country that was used by enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom. This effort was often spontaneous, with enslaved people beginning their journey to freedom unaided. Many freedom seekers completed their self-emancipation without assistance. In the 1820s and 1830s, the United States saw an increased effort to assist freedom seekers. This gave the impression that there was an organized “underground” network. In some cases, the decision to assist a freedom seeker may have been a spontaneous reaction. In other instances, particularly after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, the Underground Railroad was deliberate and organized.

Origins of the Underground Railroad

Enslaved people have always sought freedom, even in the earliest days of slavery. Colonial North America – including Canada and northern states in the US – was deeply involved in the slave trade. Newly enslaved Africans often ran away in groups intending to establish new communities in remote areas. Slavery also proliferated in northern states, making escape difficult. Before the mid-1800s, Spanish Florida and Mexico were the favored destinations for many escaping bondage. It was not until the northern states and Canada adopted emancipation laws that they became safer destinations for freedom seekers.

After Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Canada became a haven for many attempting to obtain their freedom. This act made it both possible and profitable to hire slave catchers to find and arrest freedom seekers. This was a disaster for free Black communities in the North. Slave catchers often kidnapped African Americans who were actually legally free people. But these seizures and kidnappings persuaded many more people to offer aid as part of the Underground Railroad. Individuals, couples, and even families participated in the Underground Railroad. Formerly enslaved men and women also played a significant role in aiding freedom seekers, such as the Clemens family. James and Sophia Clemens established the Greenville community in western Ohio. In addition to founding a school and a cemetery, they used their home as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Greenville even became a final stop for a number of freedom seekers.

The Role of Women in the Underground Railroad

Many women were active in the Underground Railroad. One of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman made over a dozen trips into slaveholding states to guide enslaved people to freedom. While Tubman had many hiding locations, oral histories indicate that she frequently stopped at the Bethel AME Church in Greenwich Township, New Jersey. Located in the heart of the Black community of Springtown, the church offered lodging to freedom seekers travelling north after leaving Maryland's Eastern Shore and Delaware. Tubman used the Springtown station from 1849-1853. This route north through Delaware was one of her most famous.

White women, such as the Jacksons, also played a critical role in offering aid to freedom seekers. Living in Massachusetts, Mary Jackson and her family offered their homestead as a safe haven for those escaping along the Underground Railroad. Her daughter Ellen recorded some of their activity, writing that "the Homestead's doors stood ever open with a welcome to any of the workers against slavery for as often and as long as suited their convenience or pleasure.” After Mary’s husband William died in 1855, she and her daughters continued to play a role in the life of the community. In 1865, Ellen helped found the Freedman's Aid Society in Newton. She served as its president until her death in 1902.

The end of the Civil War brought emancipation and the end of the Underground Railroad. As the Underground Railroad was composed of a loose network of individuals – enslaved and free – there is little documentation on how it operated. Fortunately, a number of people recorded their participation, including Pamela Brown Thomas. She wrote about how she and her husband, Nathan, harbored freedom seekers at their house . Known as the Dr. Nathan Thomas House, in Schoolcraft, Michigan, Pamela and her family assisted approximately 1,000 to 1,500 freedom seekers.

Legacy of the Underground Railroad

There are places associated with Underground Railroad located across the U.S., and a number of national preservation programs are dedicated to documenting these sites. The National Park Service’s Network to Freedom program, for example, consists of sites with a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad. Through collaboration with government entities, individuals, and organizations, the Network to Freedom honors, preserves, and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight. The National Park Service also features a website about the Underground Railroad and associated places.

Another way to recognize the places of the Underground Railroad is through the National Register of Historic Places . This National Park Service program coordinates and supports public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. A number of National Register properties have a connection to the Underground Railroad. The Barney L. Ford Building in Denver, Colorado is one such place. Barney escaped bondage with the assistance of the Underground Railroad. After making a successful journey to Chicago, he used his freedom to assist others. Barney eventually relocated to Denver where he established himself as a businessman. He owned a barbershop, hair salon, several restaurants, and a hotel. Barney also advocated for Black civil rights and played a significant role in the admission of Colorado to the Union as a free state. Places such as the Barney L. Ford Building help tell the story of the Underground Railroad and its members – both free and enslaved. By nominating places to the Network to Freedom or to the National Register, members of the public can help recognize and preserve sites, structures, and landscapes associated with the Underground Railroad.

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New "Freedom to Equality Tours" Presented by Tourism Bureau

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Alton, IL- April 27, 2023) Take a journey through Black History in the historic river town of Alton on the new ‘Freedom to Equality’ tours offered by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. Tickets are available now for tours which begin in May and run through November.

Two tours a day are scheduled for May 13, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21 and Nov. 18. All tours take place on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jared Hennings, a professor at Lewis & Clark Community College, will lead each tour.

The 20-passenger shuttle tours begin at the Alton Visitor Center, 200 Piasa St. Tickets are $32.50 per person and must be purchased in advance and online at: https://www.riversandroutes.co...

“The Alton region has an impressive Underground Railroad history coupled with a powerful and inspiring quest for African-American equality over the years,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau noted. “We believe in honoring that history and preserving its place in our storytelling efforts. These new tours bring that part of the region’s history to life and people are able to see for themselves the places and people who left their mark on Alton.”

The tours highlight Black History in Alton beginning with the famed Underground Railroad and following history through the fight for civil liberties and includes the cultural contributions that shaped not only Alton but the United States.

Stops include Rocky Fork Church where the history of this large-scale Underground Railroad station outside of Alton is uncovered. This community is now part of a registry of verified Underground Railroad locations. The shuttle will also stop at the Alton Cemetery, the final resting place of many notable abolitionists and African-American leaders in the community. It is also home to the iconic Elijah P. Lovejoy monument, the tallest monument in Illinois, honoring this famed abolitionist minister and newspaper publisher.

The tour highlights notable African-American Alton residents including Charles Newton, the first Black graduate of Alton High School in 1873, Scott Bibb, a former slave, who battled for public school integration in Alton and Josephine Beckwith who fought to secure equality for African-American youths and adults. The tours end with a look at the life of jazz great Miles Davis who was born in Alton.

As the guide for the tours, Mr. Hennings brings the historical figures to life with re-enactments, stories and song.

Another stop on the tour is the famed Union Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Illinois. It was populated by free Blacks and organized in 1836. The church hosted a statewide colored convention in 1856 which led to the downfall of the Black Code.

The Alton region is part of the National Park Service’s “Network to Freedom” passport program. A passport stamp honors the Underground Railroad Sites in Alton and Godfrey. Passport holders can have their passports stamped at the Alton Visitor Center or Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library in downtown Alton.

For more information on the Freedom to Equality Tours, please contact the Great Rivers & Routes tourism Bureau at (618) 465-6676 or go to www.RiversandRoutes.com -30-

(The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is a certified Destination Marketing Organization serving Madison, Jersey, Calhoun, Macoupin, Montgomery and Greene counties and East St. Louis in St. Clair County. The bureau is dedicated to educating visitors about the region by providing information regarding the area’s history, unique landmarks, recreational opportunities, leisure attractions, special events and scenic marvels.)

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5 Things to Do in St. Louis This Weekend | April 18 to 21

Rain or shine, St. Louis has plenty of options for a good time this weekend.

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Meramec Caverns , the oldest attraction on Route 66, offers guided tours of the rarest and largest cave formations in the world.

Located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, southwest of St. Louis, the cave sheltered Native American tribes and later provided minerals to French colonial miners. Civil War garrisons used the cave’s deposits to manufacture gunpowder, and outlaw Jesse James hid both men and horses in the cave’s dark passages in the 1870s. Legend also says the cave was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Adventure seekers can also explore nearby Onondaga Cave State Park or canoe along the scenic Meramec River and the crisp Huzzah and Courtois creeks.

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Unseen St. Louis

August 2023 Unseen STL History Talks

St. louis: underground.

Dive deep into the hidden narratives of "St. Louis: Underground" with two esteemed historians discussing the Underground Railroad in St. Louis, as well as caves, graves and other things tucked out of sight.

Join us for these talks on August 17th from 7-9 pm (doors 6 pm) at the Spine Indie Bookstore and Cafe at 1976-82 Arsenal St. in St. Louis. These free talks are open to everyone, making it a perfect opportunity for all history buffs and curious minds.

Julie Nicolai, author of the new book, Enslavement and the Underground Railroad in Missouri and Illinois , will highlight the African American experience in St. Louis from the French Colonial era to 1865. She will focus on the Underground Railroad's history in the area, giving attendees an exclusive look at some fascinating sites such as the Old Des Peres Presbyterian Church in St. Louis County and the Nathanial Hanson House in Alton, IL. Discover the courageous journey of Caroline Quarlls from St. Louis to Canada, learn about the abolitionist fervor of the Congregationalists in central Illinois, and delve into the mysteries of the unmarked graves at the Coleman Family Cemetery in Wildwood, among other captivating stories.

Amanda Clark, in her return to Unseen STL History, will transport attendees to the underground world of St. Louis. She will unravel the stories of the city's hidden caves, forgotten cemeteries, ancient clay pits, and even the unseen depths of the Mississippi River. She has a passion for the truly unseen elements of St. Louis history and she will share stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The speakers

Julie Nicolai : After receiving degrees in Art History & Archaeology from Washington University, Julie has devoted three decades to researching the region's history of enslavement and the Underground Railroad. Aside from her contributions to historical research, Julie manages a personal property appraisal business and co-runs a business branding boutique. She offers historical tours for local tour companies and has been a featured author in publications like the Gateway Magazine by the Missouri Historical Society. Currently, Julie is penning a book detailing the silver collection of the Missouri Historical Society.

Amanda Clark: Originally from outside St. Louis, Amanda's enthusiasm for the city's rich history and architectural gems is infectious. In 2012 she established Renegade Tours, which later evolved into See STL Tours at the Missouri History Museum in 2020. This transition expanded her roles to include research, writing, and exhibit design. Amanda's distinctive approach to public history has earned her mentions in prestigious publications like the New York Times. Passionate about preserving history, she actively volunteers for the Landmarks Association and the National Building Arts Foundation in Sauget, Illinois. Amanda resides in Webster Groves amidst the company of her children, cats, and a dog.

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Itinerary: A weekend trip to sites on Illinois’…

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Itinerary: a weekend trip to sites on illinois’ underground railroad.

With more than 50 sites on our map of Illinois’ Underground Railroad, it would be quite challenging to make the 1,100-mile round trip in a single vacation.

But as September is International Underground Railroad Month, if you’ve got a few days free, plan a weekender to visit the places where freedom seekers took refuge in their escapes from enslavement and get to know the stories of how they made new lives for themselves in Illinois communities.

This 3-day itinerary will require car travel and starts off in the Chicago area. It focuses on visiting as many sites within a reasonable time frame, with an emphasis on sites with interactive activities for an engaging trip.

Sites are all around the state, so if a trip isn’t feasible, be sure to take a look at our full map of Underground Railroad sites — there might be places to visit much closer to home than you think.

Your destination is Alton, in the southwest corner of the state near St. Louis. But you have a few options for the journey. You could stop at the southern edge of Chicago to visit the Jan and Aagje Ton Farm , the first site in the city to be named to the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.

It’s also part of the African American Heritage Water Trail , beginning at the Cook County Forest Preserves’ Beaubien Woods and ending in south suburban Robbins. The 7-mile Little Calumet River trail requires those taking to the water to be experienced paddlers or traveling with an experienced guide, but you can also enjoy the view from the shore.

By taking I-57 south through Champaign, you could make a stop in Oakland to see the Dr. Hiram Rutherford House. The abolitionist faced off against Abraham Lincoln in a case involving a family of freedom seekers. It’s only open until 2 p.m. Fridays, so this one is probably best for the early risers.

Or you can make a slightly shorter, 4 1/2-hour drive via I-55 through Springfield. After strolling by the Old State Capitol , spend some time walking through history at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site . Among the places surrounding the Civil War-era president’s home are the Jameson Jenkins lot , the site where the home of Jenkins — believed to have used his transportation business to aid freedom seekers — once stood.

If you reach Alton later in the day, you can unwind in town, or cross the river into St. Louis for a night out. On the Illinois side, Alton has dozens of restaurants, a handful of craft breweries and coffee shops. For a stay that mirrors your sightseeing plans, there’s at least one Airbnb in a historic house , as well as a traditional bed-and-breakfast inn known as Beall Mansion .

If you’ve timed your trip to include one of the third Saturdays of the month from September through November, the Freedom to Equality tour offers a convenient way to see many of Alton’s Underground Railroad sites and other places teeming with Black history. (If you miss the Sept. 16 tour, the next one will be Oct. 21.)

If the bus tour isn’t an option, you can explore the town yourself, or head north toward Jacksonville. On the way, the Hamilton Primary School will host a festival Sept. 23-24 that includes tours of the historic school and Underground Railroad stop, as well as a bake-off auction and a Sunday chicken dinner. On other dates, tours can be scheduled in advance.

If the weather is nice, your 1 1/2-hour drive could detour 30 minutes over to the New Philadelphia National Historic Site , which became a national park at the end of 2022. The town named for brotherly love was the first in the U.S. founded and registered by a Black person, “Free” Frank McWorter.

Now, the nonprofit New Philadelphia Association manages a visitors’ kiosk and virtual tour. A free app enables visitors to view 3D representations of buildings overlaid at their original locations within the existing landscape.

Jacksonville is teeming with historic Underground Railroad sites, and most can be viewed on the Woodlawn Farm bus tours — the next one is Oct. 15. Woodlawn Farm itself has open tour days from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May through September. The farm’s owners aided freedom seekers, employed them and built cabins on the property for free Black families.

The Jacksonville visitors bureau maps out a self-guided tour of its Underground Railroad sites , which include the Congregational Church at the heart of the town’s abolitionist movement.

If you’re staying overnight, bed-and-breakfast inns are housed in elegantly restored mansions, such as Blessings on State and Villa DeWolf . Those who enjoy a night under the stars have multiple options for camping . A few popular restaurants include The Little Stove, Proud Richard’s, Norma’s North Star Cafe and Leo’s Pizza.

As you head to Chicago, you have a few options. Detour in Princeton to see the Owen Lovejoy Homestead , once home to the abolitionist minister and congressman, and brother of murdered abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy. It is said that Frederick Douglass stayed here, and docents in present day can point out a hidden area above the stairs where freedom seekers hid. Tours take place 1-4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays from May through September.

A shorter drive through Springfield and Bloomington on I-55 will pass by the I&M Canal Headquarters, open from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Even before the I&M Canal was completed in 1848, freedom seekers would follow its path as they headed for Chicago, aided by abolitionists along the route.

Other routes could include visits to the African American Heritage Water Trail, if it wasn’t visited at the start of your trip; or through the west suburbs to visit Blanchard Hall , the 1846 Israel Blodgett House , the Sheldon Peck Homestead or Graue Mill and Museum, all stops on the Underground Railroad. As a bonus, this course of action could also include a visit to the Ten Mile Freedom House Marker — conveniently located in a McDonald’s parking lot for hungry travelers.

But if the weather is nice and you’re in the mood to stretch your legs after so much time in the car, spend the afternoon in Graceland Cemetery . Take in the final resting place of many Underground Railroad conductors, freedom seekers and abolitionists along the historic cemetery’s sweeping landscape. Self-guided audio tours describe the historic inhabitants, offering a final moment to reflect on the many lives shaping Illinois Underground Railroad before you head home.

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Underground Railroad Walking Tour with guest speakers event set for New Brighton

The tour includes the merrick art gallery where a long-hidden tunnel was unearthed this year, believed to have been part of the underground railroad..

NEW BRIGHTON ― Get a glimpse of history as New Brighton hosts its third Free Underground Railroad Walking Tour on Sept. 30.

The biennial event has expanded to two days, beginning Sept. 29 with a Kick-off Speaker Event featuring two historians at the Merrick Art Gallery at 1100 Fifth Ave. At 7 p.m., Laurence Glasco, associate professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh will give a talk titled: “After They Got Here: The Remarkable Accomplishments of Pittsburgh’s Runaway Slaves.” The second speaker will be Steven Cole, an actor who will portray famous abolitionist figure, Frederick Douglass at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 at: nbhistory.org . Refreshments will be served.

The next day, Sept. 30, the New Brighton Historical Society (NBHS) welcomes history lovers to the Free Underground Railroad Walking Tour. The event begins at 9 a.m. at 1612 Third Ave., current site of J&J Spratt Funeral Home. Walkers must sign up for a time slot upon arrival. Tours are first-come, first-served with the last tour leaving at 2 p.m.

NBHS members and costumed volunteers will provide information on the tours, which leave every 15 minutes, visiting local stops on the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses and secret routes that assisted runaway enslaved people on their journeys to freedom in the North. 

The NBHS advises tour participants the tour includes one hill and some uneven sidewalks on the route.

Historical information, displays, food, beverages, and merchandise will be available for sale onsite. WBVP Radio will broadcast live at the event.

The tour includes the Merrick Art Gallery where an undercover tunnel was discovered this past spring, believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad. Amid a plumbing project excavating the Merrick's back lawn, an entrance to a tunnel was found, with exploration revealing it spans completely under the museum.

The exposed tunnel's entrance can be visited during museum hours.

"We just purchased a gazebo to cover the opening and we just started the process of installing it," Michelle Long, Merrick director said.  "The gazebo will be used to cover the entrance to the opening. Next comes the brick repair. People can view it from above right now. We are the last stop on the Underground tours and people can take a peek at the opening of the tunnel but once again it is not ready for the public to enter it as yet."

The 2.5-mile walking tour will show participants eight buildings/homes that were either part of the Underground Railroad or linked to famed abolitionists.

NBHS president Mike Spratt said, "school history is taught at a macro-level. We learn about important figures, places and events, the good and the bad, but rarely is local history taught or the involvement of local people in larger historical events. We started this tour because a student asked about how New Brighton was part of the Underground Railroad and no one could answer the question."

The New Brighton tour is about how local people played a part in a larger event going on around them.

"People who attend this tour should walk away with a better understanding about New Brighton’s small role in helping people escape the horrors of slavery," Spratt said.

The opening night event is devoted more to the area beyond New Brighton. Attendees will hear about the triumphs of those who found freedom in Pittsburgh and built a life there. They’ll also hear about the life of former slave and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass and his frequent trips to this area, Spratt said.

To learn more, go to nbhistory.org/underground-railroad-walking-tour .

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times, and easy to reach at [email protected] .