Path to Freedom

The stories, heritage sites, and landscapes of the Underground Railroad (UGRR) relate a monumental chapter in American history. They epitomize the relentless pursuit of freedom and justice. Even though there were other UGRR routes through the United States, the path to freedom into Pennsylvania and Chester County in particular was different.

Passage of the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly meant freedom seekers who reached Pennsylvania had the prospect of achieving freedom. Bordered by the slave states of Maryland and Delaware, Chester County was the first stop for many of the enslaved as they crossed the line. Even though the freedom seekers were still in danger of recapture, the most active clandestine network of abolitionists and sympathizers in the Country worked tirelessly within a landscape of resistance to send them onto safety.

Over several decades, the UGRR facilitated the escape of countless African American freedom seekers from the bonds of enslavement in the South to freedom in the North. During passage between a series of safe houses, conductors and station masters provided shelter, food, guidance, support, and transportation for passengers on this perilous journey. There are heritage sites open to the public that highlight the history, people, and places linked to the expansive story of the path to freedom in Chester County. They include, but are not limited to, Barnard Station in Pocopson, the Kennett Square Heritage Center/Kennett Underground Railroad Center, the Chester County History Center, People's Hall, and more.

Ultimately, when the tyranny of the Civil War subsided, the story of African Americans in Chester County did not end. Many freedom seekers stayed to create communities, and despite the odds, these communities strived to build a life of dignity, establishing schools, businesses, and a multitude of churches, not just as a place of worship, but as community centers and platforms for civil rights activism from the late 19th Century to the present.