The Underground Railroad — A historic America road trip
If you have suggestions for additions to this trip, please add them in the comments below. Based on the response, we're also creating more "Historic America Road Trips," covering many different regions, eras, and themes. If you have suggestions or if you have an entire trip to share, please let us know. If we publish your trip, you'll receive full credit—and your choice of a shirt from The History List Store.
KANSAS
John Brown Cabin
Osawatomie, Kansas
Located at the Adair Cabin State Historic Site in Osawatomie, Kansas. It is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Bourbon County, Kansas
Fort Scott is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm, April-October and 9:00am to 5:00pm, from November-March. The site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
IOWA
Tabor Antislavery Historic District
Tabor, Iowa
The Tabor Antislavery Historic District is bordered by West, Center, Orange, and Elm Streets in Tabor, Iowa. The Public Square (Tabor City Park) composes a majority of the historic district. The Todd House is located in the historic district on Park Street and is open to the public by appointment.
George B. Hitchcock House
Lewis vicinity, Iowa
The house is open for tours from May-September, from 1:00pm-5:00pm, closed Mondays.
Henderson Lewelling House
Salem, Iowa
It is open to the public May through September on Sundays only from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. During the rest of the year, tours are given by appointment by calling the Museum.
Jordan House
West Des Moines, Iowa
Today the Jordan House serves both as a museum for West Des Moines and as the office of the West Des Moines Historical Society. It is open for tours Fridays at 11 am and 4 pm, and first Sundays at 1 and 2 pm.
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WISCONSIN
Milton House
Milton, Wisconsin
From May until Labor Day, the museum is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. From Labor Day thru Memorial Day the museum is open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Monday thru Friday. Group tours are available year round.
ILLINOIS
Owen Lovejoy House
Princeton, Illinois
The Owen Lovejoy House is open for tours Friday-Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, May-September. Appointments can be made to see the house at other times during the summer and from October-April.
John Hossack House
Ottawa, Illinois
The John Hossack House is a private residence and not open to the public.
Dr. Richard Eells House
Quincy, Illinois
Recently restored by the Friends of Dr. Richard Eells House, it is open for groups tours and on special occasions.
Beecher Hall
Jacksonville, Illinois
Beecher Hall, Illinois College, is free and open to visitors during operating hours, when the college is not on vacation. Tours are available.
Rutherford House
Oakland, Illinois
The Dr. Hiram Rutherford House is part of the Oakland Historic Landmarks compound. Landmarks sites are open 10 am-2 pm, Fridays and Saturdays, from April 1 through Oct. 31. Tours at other times are available by appointment.
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MICHIGAN
Dr. Nathan Thomas House
Schoolcraft, Michigan
The Dr. Nathan Thomas House is located at 613 East Cass Street in Schoolcraft, Michigan. Tours are available by appointment.
Second Baptist Church
Detroit, Michigan
The Second Baptist Church is open to the public.
INDIANA
Bethel AME Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Bethel AME Church is open to the public.
Levi Coffin House
Fountain City, Indiana
The Levi Coffin House, owned by the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is open to the public from June 1-August 31, Tuesday-Saturday, 1:00-4:00 pm. From September 1-October 31 it is open on Saturdays only, 1:00-4:00 pm.
Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building
Lancaster, Indiana
Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building is currently not open to the public. The building is owned by Historic Eleutherian, Inc. who is seeking funds for a long-range plan for the site.
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Lyman and Asenath Hoyt House
Madison, Indiana
The Lyman and Asenath Hoyt House is privately owned by Historic Eleutherian College, Inc., and not open to the public.
Madison Historic District
Madison, Indiana
The Madison Historic District is located in Madison, in southeastern Indiana, roughly one hour northeast of Louisville, Kentucky, and one hour southwest of Cincinnati, OH. The Georgetown Neighborhood offers a self-guided walking tour. The African Methodist Episcopal Church is open for special events and by appointment.
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OHIO
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is open to the public Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Appointments should be made for group tours.
John P. Parker House
Ripley, Ohio
The John P. Parker House has recently been restored, and is open on weekends from May through the second weekend in December. Tours are offered 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays, and 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Sundays.
John Rankin House
Ripley, Ohio
The John Rankin House is open from May 2 through October 31 from 10:00am to 5:00pm Wednesday-Saturday, and 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday. The museum is also open on Sunday, December 16 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm for the Historic House Tour. The museum is open by appointment only during other times of the year
Village of Mt. Pleasant Historic District
Mt. Pleasant, Ohio
While most of the buildings in the Village of Mt. Pleasant Historic District are private, the Mt. Pleasant Historical Society offers Underground Railroad walking tours which include tours of several houses within the district.
Wilson Bruce Evans House
Oberlin, Ohio
The Wilson Bruce Evans House is a private residence and is not open to the public.
Rush R. Sloane House
Sandusky, Ohio
The Rush R. Sloane House is currently vacant, the house is not open to the public.
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Daniel Howell Hise House
Salem, Ohio
The Daniel Howell Hise House is a private residence, and is not open to the public.
Col. William Hubbard House
Ashtabula, Ohio
The William Hubbard House is open to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the fall and winter, please call ahead for scheduled tours.
Reuben Benedict House
Marengo, Ohio
The Reuben Benedict House is a private residence and is not open to the public.
Samuel and Sally Wilson House
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Samuel and Sally Wilson House is a private residence and is not open to the public.
James and Sophia Clemens Farmstead
Greenville, Ohio
The James and Sophia Clemens Farmstead is a private property and is not open to the public.
Spring Hill
Massillon, Ohio
Spring Hill is open for tours from 1:00pm to 4:00pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from June-August.
Putnam Historic District
Zanesville, Ohio
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Visitor's Bureau offers a historic Putnam walking tour brochure and tours of the Putnam Presbyterian Church by appointment. The Stone Academy is now a museum operated by the Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County, open Tuesday-Friday, 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
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PENNSYLVANIA
F. Julius LeMoyne House
Washington, Pennsylvania
The F. Julius LeMoyne House is open to the public for guided tours Tuesday-Friday, 11:00am to 4:00pm.
John Brown House
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
The John Brown House is open to the public.
Bethel AME Zion Church, now known as Central Pennsylvania African American Museum
Reading, Pennsylvania
Bethel AME Church is located in Reading, Pennsylvania at 119 North Tenth Street. It is open to the public.
Oakdale
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Oakdale is a private residence and is not open to the public.
White Horse Farm
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
White Horse Farm is a private residence and is not open to the public.
Johnson House
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Johnson House is open to the public.
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NEW YORK
Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, Residence and Thompson AME Zion Church
Auburn, New York
The Home for the Aged and Tubman's home are owned by the AME Zion Church, the Home for the Aged is open to the public by appointment. The Thompson AME Zion Church is currently closed and undergoing a historic structure study and report.
St. James AME Zion Church
Ithaca, New York
St. James AME Zion Church is open to the public.
Gerrit Smith Estate and Land Office
Peterboro, New York
The Gerrit Smith Estate and Land Office are now the location of Smithfield Mercantile. They are open to the public.
John Brown Farm and Gravesite
Lake Placid, New York
The John Brown Farm and Gravesite are open to the public.
Foster Memorial AME Zion Church
Tarrytown, New York
Foster AME Zion Church is open to the public.
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims
Brooklyn, New York
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims is still in use by the congregation. Midday tours of the sanctuary are offered after Sunday services.
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Asa and Caroline Wing House
Oswego, New York
The Asa and Caroline Wing House is currently not open to the public.
Edwin W. and Charlotte Clarke House
Oswego, New York
The Edwin W. and Charlotte Clarke House is currently not open to public.
John P. and Lydia Edwards House
Oswego, New York
The John B. and Lydia Edwards House is not open to the public.
Orson Ames House
Oswego, New York
The Orson Ames House is currently not open to the public.
Starr Clock Tinshop
Mexico, New York
The Starr Clark Tin Shop is open Friday from 4 pm -7pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm.
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VERMONT
Rokeby
Ferrisburgh, Vermont
Rokeby Museum will open for its 2017 season on Sunday, May 21. It will be open daily from 10 to 5 through October 29, 2017.
MAINE
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Brunswick, Maine
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is owned by Bowdoin College and is not open to the public.
Abyssinian Meeting House
Portland, Maine
The Abyssinian Meeting House is currently under restoration.
MASSACHUSETTS
African American National Historic Site
Boston, Massachusetts
The African American National Historic Site encompasses the Boston African American National Historic Site headquarters, the African Meeting House and the Lews and Harriet Hayden House.
The headquarters is where visitors can find information on touring the Black Heritage Trail, the African Meeting House not open to the public and the Lewis and Harriet Hayden House is a private residence and is not open to the public.
William Lloyd Garrison House
Boston, Massachusetts
The William Lloyd Garrison House is privately owned, it is not open to the public.
William Ingersoll Bowditch House
Brookline, Massachusetts
The William Ingersoll Bowditch House is a historic house built in 1843 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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The Wayside
Concord, Massachusetts
The Wayside, administered by the National Park Service, is located within the Minuteman National Historical Park, one mile east of Concord's Monument Square.
Liberty Farm
Worcester, Massachusetts
Liberty Farm, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 116 Mower St. in Worcester, MA. The property is not open to the public.
Nathan and Mary Johnson House
New Bedford, Massachusetts
The Nathan and Mary Johnson Properties are privately owned, but tours are available by appointment. Appointments must be made 48 hours in advance.
Jackson Homestead
Newton, Massachusetts
The Jackson Homestead is now the home of the Newton History Museum, the house is open Tuesday-Friday, 11:00am to 5:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00pm. There is a fee for admission.
Hill-Ross Farm
Northampton, Massachussets
The Hill-Ross Farm is privately owned and is not open to the public. More information about the property and its history, including a walking tour of Florence, can be found at the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and UGRR Studies.
Dorsey-Jones House
Northampton, Massachusetts
The Dorsey-Jones House is a private residence and is not open to the public. More information about the property and its history, including a walking tour of Florence, can be found at the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and UGRR Studies.
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mount Auburn Cemetery is open daily 8 am to 8 pm. Admission is free.
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CONNECTICUT
Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House
Farmington, Connecticut
The Austin F. Williams House is a private residence, it is not open to the public.
NEW JERSEY
The Grimes Homestead
Mountain Lakes, New Jersey
The Grimes Homestead is a private residence, it is not open to the public.
Peter Mott House
Lawnside Borough, New Jersey
The Peter Mott House was saved from demolition by the Lawnside Historical Society. The house is open to the public on Saturdays from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and for group tours by appointment.
Bethel AME Church
Greenwich, New Jersey
The Bethel AME Church is a private property, and not open to the public.
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mount Zion Cemetery
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mount Zion Cemetery are still in use by the congregation.
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DELAWARE
Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House
Odessa, Delaware
Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House is open by appointment only, please contact the Wilmington Monthly Meeting House to do so, 302-652-4491 or wilmmtg@juno.com.
Friends Meeting House
Wilmington, Delaware
The Friends Meeting House is located at 4th and West sts. in Wilmington, Delaware. Visitors are welcome to attend services at 10:00am every Sunday. The main floor is open to visitors at other times by appointment only.
New Castle County Courthouse
New Castle, Delaware
The New Castle County Courthouse is free and open to the public on Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00 am-3:30 pm and Sunday, 1:30 pm-4:30 pm but closed state holidays. Hours are subject to change. Tours and other interpretive activities take place throughout operating hours. Reservations are required for some activities.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Washington, D.C.
The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is open to the public.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary House
Washington, D.C.
The Mary Ann Shadd Cary House is not open to the public.
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MARYLAND
John Brown's Headquarters
Sharpsburg, Maryland
John Brown's Headquarters is privately owned, it is open to the public by appointment. Tours can be arranged through the Headquarter's website, or by sending an email to jbrown1859@aol.com.
Riley-Bolten House
North Bethesda, Maryland
The Riley/Bolten House is called the Josiah Henson Park. The park is currently not open for regular tours and is open only during a limited number of dates each season.
VIRGINIA
Bruin's Slave Jail
Alexandria, Virginia
Bruin's Slave Jail is currently used as business offices and is not open to the public.
Fort Monroe
Richmond, Virginia
The park is located approximately 65 miles from Richmond, Virginia, at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula. Programming, facilities and visitor services are currently operated with cooperation through our park partners and largely available at the Casemate Museum. The Casemate Museum is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for Easter, Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. The Casemate Museum will be open on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Admission is free and the facility is wheelchair accessible.
Moncure Conway House
Falmouth, Virginia
The Moncure Conway House is open for special events only.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Rosslyn, Virginia
Theodore Roosevelt Island is located in the Potomac River off the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Rosslyn, Virginia. There is no entrance fee, and ranger-led programs on the island are free. Theodore Roosevelt Island is open year-round from 6 am to 10 pm. There is no visitor center on the island itself. Information, brochures, and maps are available at other George Washington Memorial Parkway visitor centers and at George Washington Memorial Parkway headquarters.
WEST VIRGINIA
Jefferson County Courthouse
Charles Town, West Virginia
The Jefferson County Courthouse offers guided tours on weekends, April-November. For more information and special tours call 304/728-7713.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
TheHarpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers in the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, 65 miles northwest of Washington, DC, and 20 miles southwest of Frederick, MD, via U.S. Route 340. The Visitor's Center is open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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FLORIDA
British Fort
Sumatra vicinity, Florida
British Fort, or Fort Gadsden, is located in the Apalachicola National Forest and is a short distance from State Road 65, near Sumatra, Florida. The site is open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Fort Mose Historic State Park
St Augustine, Florida
The Fort Mose Historic State Park is open to the public. Visitors can still view the land where the settlement once stood, although there are no remains of the earth and wooden structures. Visitors can visit the newly constructed visitor center and museum or explore the ground and view the many exhibits avaliable.
COLORADO
Barney L. Ford Building
Denver, Colorado
The Barney L. Ford Building is privately owned and not open to the public.
NEBRASKA
Mayhew Cabin
Nebraska City, Nebraska
The Mayhew Cabin is open May through October, Thursday through Sunday, 9 am -5 pm, and by special appointment. There is an admission fee.
Kentucky
Camp Nelson Heritage Park
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Camp Nelson is now Camp Nelson Heritage Park. The park is open Tuesday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm and there is no admission fee. There are over five miles of trails to explore at Camp Nelson, while learning about the significant role Camp Nelson played in the Civil War.
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Source:
National Park Service