Underground Railroad Station

36 Lispenard Street

 

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1838, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS ESCAPED SLAVERY IN MARYLAND BY DISGUISING HIMSELF AS A SAILOR AND TRAVELING NORTH BY CARRIAGE, TRAIN, AND BOAT. A FEW DAYS LATER HE ARRIVED AT 36 LISPENARD STREET, THEN A SMALL BRICK BUILDING AND A "STATION" OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, A NETWORK OF SECRET "CONDUCTORS" AND SAFE HOUSES FOR FUGITIVE SLAVES. HERE, AFRICAN -AMERICAN ABOLITIONIST DAVID RUGGLES KEPT A READING ROOM AND OPERATED A PRINTING PRESS WHERE HE PUBLISHED ANTI-SLAVERY MATERIAL, INCLUDING MIRROR OF LIBERTY, AN ABOLITIONIST NEWSPAPER. THE SITE ALSO SERVED AS HEADQUARTERS OF THE NEW YORK VIGILANCE COMMITTEE. ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST ACTIVE ANTI-SLAVERY CAMPAIGNS, WHICH AIDED MORE THAN 1,000 FREEDOM-SEEKING MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.

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NEW YORK LANDMARKS PRESERVATON FOUNDATION

2006