Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Located within a former U.S. Customs House that was constructed in the midst of the Civil War, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area serves as a museum with many exhibits and programs that interpret the history of the refugees who fled to Canada to escape the possibility of re-enslavement in America. For many formerly enslaved persons, this site was an important part of their journey to Canada along the Underground Railroad.

Images

This monument depicts refugees leaving the United States at the Niagara River.

The suspension bridge crossing to Canada was utilized by runaway slaves and was the final obstacle on their exodus out of the United States but did not mark the end of their journey.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The crossing at Niagara Falls were often the final destination within the United States for runaway slaves who fled the American South with the goal of reaching Canada. The Niagara Falls area was home to a small but active abolitionist community who were willing to help runaway slaves escape the United States. The Falls marked the end of the journey in the United States, but runaways often traveled many more miles to established Black farming enclaves in what was then known as "Canada West."

Sources

The Niagara River: Between Slavery and Freedom. National Park Service. . 03/26/2018. https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-niagara-river-between-slavery-and-freedom.htm.

Klein, Jeff Z. Heritage Moments: Harriet Tubman crosses the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge. . 03/26/2018. http://news.wbfo.org/post/heritage-moments-harriet-tubman-crosses-niagara-falls-suspension-bridge.