Underground+Railroad+in+the+Adirondacks

-The underground railroad was a way of slaves that had escaped their plantation to travel once they reached the northern states that was safe and secure from the outside world. With many different stops, passage ways, hide away spots, and conductors to help them along the way many slaves were able to make it to the northern states and Canada to live a free life style.

Where did they go? -Schroon Lake/ Keene -North Elba -Elizabeth Town -Wilmington -Keeseville -Peru -Plattsburgh -Beekmantown -Ingraham Cemetary -Chazy -Rouses point -Champlain -Mooers -Malone -Constable - Vermont -The Underground railroad didn't start in the Adirondack until after 1830. At each "station" their hideaways were behind fire places, beneath trapped doors, or attic crawl spaces. Each spot had a different password that was passed on through "the grapevine". Various routes were called "trunks" or "lines". Usually traveled by foot but could travel by boat on rivers and canals. They only traveled at night time along the river bends so that slave owners wouldn't catch the fugitives escaping, also traveling at night meant that they could travel by following the North Star to get into the northern states.

Who helped them? -After the runaway slaves reached the northern states they would meet up with "conductors" who were often abolitionists or freed slaves themselves. For example, -David Ruggles and Isaac T. Hopper in New York City -Stephen Myers, Lydia and Abigail Mott in Albany -Rev. Samuel May and Rev. J.W. Loguen in Syracuse\ -Douglass and J.P. Morris in Rochester -John Brown a freed slave himself led the slaves on his route from his home in North Elba through Clinton County -Harriet Tubman was a freed slave and a conductor in the underground railroad who helped escaping slaves to Canada and later resided in New York.

What transportation did they use? -Steam boats were used up Lake Champlain that escaping slaves could hide on up to certain points like Rouses Point -Trains were also used where slaves hid on them and rode up -The most common method was walking, but they only traveled at night

Help? -Abolitionist along the way would help slaves make it to the border -The stops for abolitionist help were called "stations" or "depots" -There were "stations" all the way through the Adirondack region -Hid in the attics and crawl spaces of houses and barns

History -There is now a collection of underground railroad sites that have been marked and collected -There is also now a Museum for the Adirondack history of the underground railroad -Its called The North Star Underground Railroad Museum -located in the Ausable Chasm -There are two video rooms and lots of artifacts -"Gives you a sence of freedom" -Open Memorial Day - Columbus day 9am-4pm Mace Chasm Rd. Ausable Chasm NY 12911