The tour of Henry "Box" Brown's path to freedom starts at the location dedicated to his early life. This historical marker commemorates the life of Henry Brown, an enslaved Virginia man who famously escaped to freedom at the age of 33 by being shipped in a wooden crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia in 1849. This tour starts at his birthplace. Brown was born here on or around 1815 at the Hermitage Tobacco Plantation, located two miles from Cuckoo, VA, in Louisa County. This plantation was where Brown spent his early life. Around 1829, the plantation owner died, and Brown’s family was divided among several other slave owners. Henry Brown was sent to Richmond at that time, where he was enslaved by the plantation owner’s son at his tobacco factory until he escaped from bondage with the assistance of abolitionists.
The second stop on the Henry Brown path to freedom tour brings us to the waterfront in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond’s ports are steeped with African American history, as many enslaved African Americans entered the city aboard ships while free and enslaved persons worked on the river or canals, as well as the neighboring iron works and tobacco houses. The docks were initial arrival points for slaves before they were held in nearby slave pens and jails and sold at nearby auction houses. One of the most recent monumental spaces built in Richmond, the Box Brown Plaza commemorates the efforts of Henry Brown to achieve freedom. Brown became one of the most famous slaves in Richmond’s history after he escaped his master in Virginia, boxed himself inside a crate, and paid to have the crate shipped from Virginia to Philadelphia while he was inside. The Plaza includes a memorial for Brown: a metal duplicate of the box in which he was shipped stands as a testament to the bravery it took to pursue freedom.
The third stop on our tour is the previous location of The Adams Express Office. 1849 the office was located on the first floor of the Exchange Hotel at Fourteenth and Franklin Streets. According to Henry Brown, this location 'was about a mile distant from the place where I was packed.'" Samuel Smith's residence was noted to be a few blocks from the hotel. The Exchange Hotel was built in 1841 as a four-story Gothic revival building. The architect of this building was Isaiah Roger. This hotel was a popular location prior to the Civil War. However, this hotel was later demolished in 1895 to build the Jefferson Hotel. The Jefferson Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A railroad depot once stood on the north corners of East Broad and Eighth streets in Richmond, Virginia. The location is one block away from Capitol Square. The train station was associated with the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad lines in the mid-nineteenth century. This also was the train station associated with the journey of Henry "Box" Brown who traveled from Richmond to freedom in the North. When Henry Brown arrived at the train station the morning of March 23, 1849, he would not have seen the station from his position in the shipping crate. The 8th and Broad Street terminal had been built in the 1830's. The Richmond, Fredericksburg, & Potomac railway line was established in 1836. This was the line that would take Henry Brown on the first leg of his journey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The railroad tracks, which used to run down the center of Broad Street from east to west, were removed by the 1890s. The former 8th and Broad St. railroad freight depot and offices were no longer here by 1895 and never returned to this spot; the corners were redeveloped in the twentieth century with an office building and the Library of Virginia.
The fifth stop on Henry Brown's journey took him to the water and the Fredericksburg Steamship Company whose port was located at Aquia Landing on the Potomac River. Aquia Landing has an extensive history being an important site to the Patawomeck Tribe who had greeted Captain John Smith in 1608 as he sailed up the Potomac River. A historic marker recognizing this village is located not far from the landing site. Their village stood on the site of Aquia Landing. Aquia in Algonquin means gull or eagle. The landing later became an integral part of the Underground Railroad, which is where Henry Box Brown took this route up the Potomac River to The City of Washington in his journey to freedom.
The sixth stop on the Henry Brown freedom tour brings us to Washington D.C. and the waterfront. The City Warf was built in 1805 on the ancestral lands of the Anacostans, Piscataway and Pamunkey peoples. European settlers began farming the area after the arrival of John Smith in 1608. By 1791 the area that is now the Warf was established as district. It was been mapped out by Pierre L’Enfant to include a seaport and a maritime community. L'Enfant was also the original architect of the city plan for Washington D.C. The original plan for the entire city, including the waterfront, was mapped out in 1791. The Warf Market was first opened in 1805. By the time that Henry "Box" Brown made his trip through the port in March 1849, it had become a vibrant port and market. It continues to be a lively market today.
The Quaker meeting house was built between 1803 and 1805. The simplicity and classic beauty of the building reflect the Society of Friends (also known as the Quakers) and their values of thrift, humility, charitable work, and the rejection of materialism. The meeting house is open for tours and is still used as a center for worship.It hosts the Philadelphia Yearly Meetings of Friends, a general conference that also serves as the central organizing body for the Quakers. The meetinghouse was built upon a Quaker burial ground. One of the earliest symbols of the Quaker belief in equality, the Society of Friends allowed non-members, Native Americans, and African Americans to be buried here.The building was also the final stop for many on the Underground Railroad, after a hard journey north they could find friends and support from the Quaker community in Philadelphia. Famous escaped slave, public speaker, and magician, Henry "Box" Brown was unboxed here in front of an audience of abolitionists on March 30th, 1849.
The Motts held a distinguished position within the Philadelphia abolitionist movement, with Lucretia Mott emerging as a central figure. Their residence was not merely a dwelling but a beacon of hope and sanctuary for those seeking liberation from the shackles of slavery. Lucretia's unwavering commitment to justice led the family to open their doors to fellow abolitionists, providing a space for strategic planning and collaboration in the fight against oppression.The Motts went beyond ideological support, offering practical assistance to those in need. Their home became a refuge for escaped slaves, offering not only shelter but also medical care and sustenance. In this capacity, their residence often served as a vital link in the clandestine network of the Underground Railroad. Much like William Still's house, the Motts' home represented a crucial waypoint on the journey to freedom, where individuals could find respite and support before continuing their perilous path to liberty.
William Still was an active Civil Rights abolitionist in the mid 1800s and was an integral player in helping many slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. He worked tirelessly in many different ways to better the African American community throughout his entire life. Born the son of former slaves, Still's passion for freedom and justice was rooted deep within him. Still taught himself to read and write which furthered his work as an abolitionist and he published works speaking out against the injustices placed upon the African American community. Often referred to as the Father of the Underground Railroad, Still's historical land-marker is placed in front of his home at 244 S. 12th Street in Philadelphia which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for many years.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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This multi city tour travels the route that Henry Brown took via the Underground Railroad. He traveled over 27 hours and 250 miles inside of a box from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This tour highlights stops and events during his journey.
