History To-Go: The Underground Railroad

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The Underground Railroad was a system of people and safehouses that helped runaway slaves as they made the long, dangerous journey North to freedom. To keep freedom seekers and themselves safe from slave catchers and others who didn't approve of their actions, the Underground Railroad was kept secret and code words were used for extra protection. There's a lot that we still don't know about the Underground Railroad like how many stations (safehouses) there were, how many conductors (people helping) there were, or even how many slaves used the Underground Railroad to escape, but we do know that North Carolina played a big role. Even before the Railroad was created, North Carolina had gained a reputation as "The Runaway State," where slaves looking for freedom could flee to blend in with free Black populations, and The Great Dismal Swamp near the Virginia border was well known across the country as a safe haven for escaped slaves, Native Americans, and Whites. Quaker communities were the most active in the Underground Railroad, and the Society of Friends in Guilford County, North Carolina helped slaves as early as 1809.

February's "History To-Go" box features The Underground Railroad! You can come by the museum starting Tuesday February 1, 2022 to pick up a box (limit 2 per family). Limited supplies, so come early! You can select the links below to access the box contents if you cannot get to the museum to pick yours up!

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Thanks to funding from the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation Inc, and the Arts Council of Fayetteville we are offering FREE "History To-Go", take home craft kits.  

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