Lessons in the Geography of the
Underground Railroad in New York State
Scenario 1: Greater New York Cityby Timothy McDonnell
New York Geographic Alliance
STATIONS ON THE NEW YORK-LONG ISLAND FREEDOM TRAIL
List of UGRR Stations:
| 1 - Bridge St. AME Zion Church |
6 - Elias Hicks Home (Quaker) |
11- David Ruggles Home |
| 2 - Bowne House (Quaker) |
7 - Peter Jay Munro Home
(Larchmont) |
12 - Isaac Hopper's Bookstore |
| 3 - William C. Bryant Homestead |
8 - Sandy Ground (Rossville)
African-American Community |
13 - Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims |
| 4 - Titus Home |
9 - Foster Memorial AME Zion
Church (Tarrytown) |
14- Weeksville Black Community |
| 5 - Jackson AME Zion Church |
10 - Dr. Samuel Elliott Home |
15 - Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church |
There are
several parts to this lesson. First you will decide on a route
for a Freedom Seeker to take on his/her way northward. Then you will
read about a real escape on the Underground Railroad in Greater New
York.
You will look over some primary sources (old map,
census record, a journal) and see if the story makes sense. Ready? It's
time to do some geography!
TASK
1: Look at the Color
Landform Atlas Map of New York. What does the landscape look like
around New York City and Long Island? Do you think that this would affect
the routes Freedom Seekers took?
TASK 2: Help plan the escape route for a Freedom Seeker:
A fugitive from a Virginia tobacco plantation has arrived in New York City. A black deck hand on a ferry hid him while the boat steamed across the Hudson River from New Jersey. He tells the Freedom Seeker to go to David Ruggles's home on Lispernard Street. He arrives there in the middle of the night. Mr. Ruggles welcomes him to his home, but he is very concerned that the house is being watched. Many people will gladly turn in a runaway slave for the reward money. Ruggles knows that he must move his "guest" to another safe house. He would like to send him over to Brooklyn and Long Island where there are many African-Americans and Friends (Quakers) willing to help out.
Is this a good idea? How would you accomplish your goal? And, after the Freedom Seeker makes it to Long Island, where should they go next? Record your responses on the chart on your Student Worksheet.
TASK 3: The ferry to Brooklyn is being watched too closely. It is too dangerous to go to Long Island. What alternative route can you take? Write your new plan on the Student Worksheet.
Primary Sources to Help in Verification
TASK 2: Help plan the escape route for a Freedom Seeker:
A fugitive from a Virginia tobacco plantation has arrived in New York City. A black deck hand on a ferry hid him while the boat steamed across the Hudson River from New Jersey. He tells the Freedom Seeker to go to David Ruggles's home on Lispernard Street. He arrives there in the middle of the night. Mr. Ruggles welcomes him to his home, but he is very concerned that the house is being watched. Many people will gladly turn in a runaway slave for the reward money. Ruggles knows that he must move his "guest" to another safe house. He would like to send him over to Brooklyn and Long Island where there are many African-Americans and Friends (Quakers) willing to help out.
Is this a good idea? How would you accomplish your goal? And, after the Freedom Seeker makes it to Long Island, where should they go next? Record your responses on the chart on your Student Worksheet.
TASK 3: The ferry to Brooklyn is being watched too closely. It is too dangerous to go to Long Island. What alternative route can you take? Write your new plan on the Student Worksheet.
TASK
4: Now that you have determined a possible escape route for a Freedom
Seeker, now it is time to compare it to an actual event in the real Underground
Railroad. To view this document, click on this link: UGRR Long Island
Primary Sources to Help in Verification
| Photos of People and
UGRR Stations |
Maps and Panoramic Views |
Census Records |
Documents |
| David Ruggles Elias Hicks Foster AME Zion Church Lafayette Presbyterian Church Bowne Homestead Weeksville Community |
New York Harbor 1855 Panoramic Map of TriBeCa neighborhood in Manhattan Tarrytown Map 1845 |
1820 Census from Queens 1860 Sandy Ground Census |
Article from the New York Times Article on Larchmont UGRR |
Make sure
you answer the questions on the Student Worksheet from Task 4. This
includes filling in the chart on the primary sources included in this web
page.
CONCLUSIONS: The wrap-up of this activity will be done as a class. Make sure you participate in the class discussion!
CONCLUSIONS: The wrap-up of this activity will be done as a class. Make sure you participate in the class discussion!
Return to the Underground Railroad Lessons Page
Return to the New York Geography Homepage
Contact Us!