The Underground Railroad

The actual story of the Underground Railroad is very complex, with determined escapees working with both whites and free blacks to employ creative stratagems to reach freedom in the northern states and Canada. Several facets of the intricately layered story of the Underground Railroad are presented in the Quest for Freedom story, utilizing destinations and sites located throughout Central Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Lancaster, Columbia, York, Gettysburg, Philadelphia and its surrounding Montgomery County, and Scranton each illustrate a different aspect of the Underground Railroad.

Pennsylvania was a place of "firsts" for anti-slavery activity. Martin Delany was the first proponent of Black Nationalism and lived part of his life in Chambersburg. And it was in Harrisburg where Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish slavery.

African-American Patriots

While African-Americans played very different roles during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Valley Forge and Gettysburg provide a great start to the story of African-American patriotism. Acts of tremendous heroism were committed and many lives sacrificed, but the story of the African-American at war has largely been omitted from the recounting of America's early military history. There is no better illustration of the fact that African-Americans have historically embraced and acted upon the American ideal of patriotism than the story of African-American contribution to the country's various military conflicts. The early conflicts at Valley Forge and Gettysburg provide a glimpse into the history of African-American military service through time, and the policies by which they were shaped.

View the interactive Freedom Journeys map.

Download the Quest for Freedom Trail Guide. (PDF 1MB)