Walking Tour: The Underground Railroad
Springfield played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, offering refuge and resistance in a time of deep injustice. This walking tour follows the same streets where freedom seekers once traveled and where neighbors offered quiet support. In the 1850s, Springfield became a hub for antislavery activism, where figures like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth gathered to organize and speak out. Walking these routes today offers a way to connect with the stories held in buildings, corners, and meeting places shaped by the struggle for justice and freedom.
- The tour will begin at the Tower Square Lobby.
Self-Directed Learning
What was the Underground Railroad really like? Discover how historical truths differ from popular myths, deepening understanding of the people and decentralized networks behind this powerful chapter in American history. The story highlights the courage of Black abolitionists like William Still and challenges the idea that mass escape was common or easy. Paired with the Underground Railroad Walking Tour, it supports self-directed learning in African American history, civics, cultural studies, and critical thinking. Learners are invited to reflect on the many forms of resistance, consider why certain stories are remembered over others, and explore how the past shapes our understanding of justice and freedom today.
