Underground Railroad

Connecticut played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, offering refuge and support to freedom seekers escaping slavery. The “Underground Railroad” section of the Connecticut Freedom Trail highlights the network of safe houses, abolitionist homes, and key locations where individuals and communities worked tirelessly to secure liberty for the enslaved. Visit sites like the Prudence Crandall House in Canterbury, where Crandall’s efforts to educate Black girls stood as an act of defiance against oppression, or the Talcott Street Church (now Faith Congregational Church) in Hartford, which served as both a spiritual haven and a hub for abolitionist activism. Homes such as the Leverett Beman Historic District in Middletown reflect the lives of free African Americans who contributed to the Underground Railroad and the fight for justice. Connecticut was also a gathering place for Colored Conventions, where African American leaders strategized and organized efforts to combat slavery and advocate for civil rights. These conventions, hosted in locations like New Haven and Hartford, played a critical role in shaping the abolitionist movement. The Underground Railroad section of the trail invites visitors to explore these profound locations and uncover the courageous stories of those who risked everything for freedom. Plan your visit to these historic sites and experience the legacy of resistance, collaboration, and hope that defines Connecticut’s role in the Underground Railroad.