Underground Railroad Museum
Underground Railroad Museum
The museum was officially recognized and added to both the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1994. President of the Lawnside Historical Society, Linda Waller, hailed it as "a monument to freedom." "The Underground Railroad was a system committed to the human desire for freedom," she told a standing-room-only crowd in the small amphitheater area behind the historic building. "Every man and every woman wants to be free, and that's what we celebrate here today."
Constructed 156 years ago, the two-story clapboard house was the home of a free black farmer and businessman who, in the pre-Civil War era, helped runaway slaves make their way north toward freedom through southern New Jersey.
As Charles H. Blockson describes in his National Geographic article "Escape from Slavery: The Underground Railroad," "it was a network of paths through the woods and fields, river crossings, boats and ships, trains and wagons, all haunted by the specter of recapture." The slaves' flight to freedom was made possible and facilitated by the courageous men and women who believed in the right of all humans to be free from human bondage.
This is a museum of great consequence, dedicated to the honor of Peter Mott who bravely helped slaves find there way to freedom, and all it afforded. Mr. Mott was a free black farmer, and ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church,ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who believed in the old scripture, "to whom much is given, much is required". And practiced this, giving his all to help those who were in need, a way out.
Other useful information for the visitor:
For admission costs and hours of operation contact the museum.
The museum was officially recognized and added to both the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1994. President of the Lawnside Historical Society, Linda Waller, hailed it as "a monument to freedom." "The Underground Railroad was a system committed to the human desire for freedom," she told a standing-room-only crowd in the small amphitheater area behind the historic building. "Every man and every woman wants to be free, and that's what we celebrate here today."
Constructed 156 years ago, the two-story clapboard house was the home of a free black farmer and businessman who, in the pre-Civil War era, helped runaway slaves make their way north toward freedom through southern New Jersey.
As Charles H. Blockson describes in his National Geographic article "Escape from Slavery: The Underground Railroad," "it was a network of paths through the woods and fields, river crossings, boats and ships, trains and wagons, all haunted by the specter of recapture." The slaves' flight to freedom was made possible and facilitated by the courageous men and women who believed in the right of all humans to be free from human bondage.
This is a museum of great consequence, dedicated to the honor of Peter Mott who bravely helped slaves find there way to freedom, and all it afforded. Mr. Mott was a free black farmer, and ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church,ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who believed in the old scripture, "to whom much is given, much is required". And practiced this, giving his all to help those who were in need, a way out.
Other useful information for the visitor:
For admission costs and hours of operation contact the museum.
