
The Albany and Capital Region Underground Railroad Web Page |
Welcome
This page is dedicated to telling the story of the Underground Railroad (UGR) in the
New York State Capital Region, and identifying some resources which might be used to further study the UGR. The area we have chosen for this page is at once small and large. The Capital Region in New York State, an area we will define as a six county area, is a small part of the area in which the UGR operated across the country. It is also a fairly large area as we understand it locally. The point of this Web site is to provide some documentation for the Capital Region on Underground Railroad activity for the public where little has been available.
There is significant documentary and physical evidence about the UGR in this area. Little of it has made its way to secondary sources available to the public. Many historians are unaware of what has gone on in this area.
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There is also considerable information that is by word of mouth from various sources. This 'oral tradition' type information varies in its credibility, but certainly has truth at its roots. This information includes what houses may have been involved in the
UGR, what methods were used, and under what circumstances those methods were employed. |
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Statewide and nationally, research is at a critical stage on the UGR. It has long been ignored or little work has been done. When the UGR is spoken of only one or two characters such as Harriett Tubman and Sojourner Truth are mentioned. But efforts to develop a better understanding of the UGR by the National Park Service and at the state level have created funding opportunities for heritage tourism, recognition, and
reclamation on UGR sights and stories. New York state legislation to create a 'Freedom Trail' in reference to the UGR has stirred intense interest in identifying sites and stories. We hope to use this page to share what we know about these efforts.
Enjoy these pages
and check back, there will be more information posted in the near future!
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