Levi Coffin House, Fountain City, Indiana
N 39° 57.375 W 084° 55.048
16S E 677884 N 4424978
A home formerly owned by Catherine adn Levi Coffin - commonly referred to as "Grand Central Station" of the Undreground Railroad movement located in Fountain City, Indiana.
Waymark Code: WMFGCE
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 10/16/2012
Views: 8
You've arrived at the Underground Railroad's Grand Central Station.
The Underground Railroad was a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada where they could be free. It was not run by any single group or person, rather it consisted of individuals (many whites, but predominantly blacks) who knew only of the local efforts to aid fugitives and not of the overall operation.
The system used railroading terms. They would move "passengers" at night between the "local stations," which were usually 10 to 20 miles apart. While the runaways were laying low, a message would be sent to the next station to alert its "stationmaster."
Levi was often referred to as the President of the Underground Railroad. So successful was the Coffin sanctuary, that every slave sheltered there ultimately reached freedom.
Address: 113 U.S. 27 Fountain City, IN USA 47341
Web site: [Web Link]
Site Details: June 1 - August 31 Tuesday - Saturday 1p.m. - 4p.m. September 1 - October 31 Saturdays only - 4p.m $2 adults; $1 children
Open to the public?: Public
Name of organization who placed the marker: Wayne County Society of Indianapolis.
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