The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
Make time to stop by the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum located no the Burkle Estate in Memphis, Tennessee. It's a simple white clapboard house built around 1849 by Jacob Burkle and was a stop along the way for the Underground Railroad.
You will see the trap doors and secret cellars that served as an escape route for many slaves. If you are a student of, or interested in American History, and African-American History in particular, this will be a somber, yet intrigung venue. There are artifacts of the terrible legacy of slavery including for sale posters of actual slaves, notices of slave sales, chains, and also a large collection of day to day items used by slaves for basic living. Cooking and eating utensils and most of it hand crafted gives a rare glimpse into how truly the hard life of a slave was.
Leaving slavery was as hazardous as being a slave. The flight to freedom meant only traveling a few miles each night and there were usually groups of slaves traveling together. Each home that as known to be friendly was a "stop" on the underground railroad to freedom.
The average tour length runs about 30-45 minutes and admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students. There are good group discounts, $5 adults and $3 students. The hours of operation are Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm (summer), Wednesday - Saturday 10am-4pm (winter). If you are bringing a group larger than 10, please call ahead to reserve a time for your group.
