UNDERGROUND RAILROAD WEEKEND

Our Fifth Biennial Underground Railroad Weekend will take place in September 2027.

About the Event

The New Brighton Historical Society’s Underground Railroad Weekend is our signature two-day event that takes place every other fall.

The weekend begins Friday evening with a special guest presentation. Past presentations have included a guest lecture by Dr. Laurence Glasco, a portrayal of Frederick Douglass by Steven A. Cole, and a reenactment of Harriet Tubman’s journey by Eddie Murphy.

The following morning, participants are invited to join a free two-mile walking tour, visiting seven historic sites in New Brighton connected to the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad. At each stop, docents share powerful stories of courage and resistance.

The Underground Railroad
Sites in New Brighton

  • James Edgar House exterior

    James Edgar House

    1034 5TH AVENUE

  • Merrick Art Gallery's exterior

    Merrick Art Gallery

    1100 5TH AVENUE

  • Dr. David Stanton House

    Dr. David Stanton House

    1300 3RD AVENUE

  • Sara Jane Clarke Lippincott's White Cottage exterior

    Sara Jane Clarke Lippincott’s White Cottage

    1221 3RD AVENUE

  • First Presbyterian Church of New Brighton's exterior

    First Presbyterian Church of New Brighton

    1199 3RD AVENUE

  • Robert Townsend House exterior

    Robert Townsend House

    1612 3RD AVENUE
    Currently J&J Spratt Funeral Home

  • Irish-Townsend House exterior

    Irish-Townsend House

    1229 7TH AVENUE
    Currently owned by the New Brighton Historical Society

  • William P. Townsend House exterior

    William P. Townsend House

    1205 PENN AVENUE
    Currently Dr. Lambert’s Optometry Office

Past Walking Tours