North Star Underground Railroad Museum
Preserving the legacy of the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad.
Photo courtesy North Star Underground Railroad Museum
The Adirondacks are steeped in American History. From Fort Ticonderoga, established before the American Revolution, to Theodore Roosevelt’s midnight ride to become President of the United States, the region has played a vital role in the country's history.
The North Star Underground Railroad Museum is a testament to the role the Adirondacks played in helping escapees from slavery make safe passage to Canada in the mid-1800s.
Documenting the history of the Champlain Line.
Located in Keeseville, the Museum depicts the history of the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad. Poignant exhibits portray compelling stories of fugitives from slavery who passed through Northeastern New York and the Champlain Valley on their way to Québec and Ontario, Canada.
Significant Underground Railroad Routes in the Champlain region.
The Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad encompassed the Upper Hudson River, the Champlain Canal, and Lake Champlain. Runaway slaves who reached these waterways took steamboats, barges and canal boats as part of their northward journey. Stagecoach and railroad lines from New York City and New England provided land routes into the region. Lake Champlain was considered a “Gateway to Freedom.”
Informative displays and artifacts.
Displays include a multimedia production of the heartrending and triumphant story of John Thomas and his family. Thomas escaped from the cruelties of slavery in Maryland and settled on his own Adirondack mountain farm. A regional exhibit identifies safe houses and illuminates the lives of men and women who represented every stage of the antislavery struggle—from petitions to war. Numerous period artifacts are on display as well.
The Museum and the Heritage Center are managed by the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association.
Visit their website for more information about the Museum, including current hours.
Find the North Star Underground Railroad Museum in Ausable Chasm.
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