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IN THE
YEARS
BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR
THERE WAS A ROUTE THAT
SLAVES COULD TAKE
TO FREEDOM.
IT CAME TO BE CALLED THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,
A SECRET NETWORK
OF SAFE HOUSES OR "STATIONS,"
OPERATED BY
"STATIONMASTERS," "CONDUCTORS,"
AND "AGENTS",
DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS
WHO BELIEVED
DEEPLY THAT
SLAVERY WAS WRONG,
AND WHO RISKED THEIR
LIVES AND PROPERTY
TO DELIVER PEOPLE OF
AFRICAN DESCENT
FROM BONDAGE.
PHILADELPHIA
WAS A VITAL JUNCTION ON THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,
PHILADELPHIANS-
MEN AND WOMEN,
YOUNG AND OLD,
FROM ALL RACES, RELIGIONS
AND WALKS OF LIFE,
KEPT THE FREEDOM
TRAIN ROLLING.
THIS MURAL
COMMEMORATES THE WORK
OF THOSE
BRAVE PHILADELPHIANS
AND THE
COURAGEOUS SLAVES
THE "PASSENGERS."
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Harriet Tubman
Conductor
Photographed April 23, 2001.
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A FEW OF
THE MANY WHO
GAVE OF THEMSELVES FOR OTHERS
WILLIAM STILL
AGENT, MAJOR RECORD KEEPER OF THE
PHILADELPHIA UGRR
LUCRETIA MOTT
QUAKER ABOLITIONIST
STATION MASTER
REV. RICHARD ALLEN
STATION MASTER
JACOB BLOCKSON
PASSENGER
HENRY "BOX" BROWN
PASSENGER
CHARLES & JOSEPH BUSTILL
STATION MASTERS, CONDUCTORS
WILLIAM & ELLEN CRAFT
PASSENGERS
HENRIETTA BOWERS DUTERTE
STATION MASTER
LEAR GREEN
PASSENGER
ISAAC HOPPER
AGENT, CONDUCTOR
SAMUEL JOHNSON & FAMILY
STATION MASTERS
J. MILLER McKIM
AGENT, STATION MASTER
ROBERT PURVIS
AGENT, STATION MASTER
PASSMORE WILLIAMSON
AGENT
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