Bucks County is home to several important stops along the Underground Railroad, many of which can be visited now, writes staff for Visit Bucks County.
The 1870 Wedgwood Inn in New Hope served as a hideout for many during the Revolution. A hatch in the property’s gazebo leads to the underground tunnel system, which people used to reach the canal.
Bensalem’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is the oldest African American church and was a safe station on the railroad. Abolitionist Robert Purvis helped thousands of slaves escape with his trips up the Delaware River.
Many believe that the Yardley Grist Mill, the Continental Tavern, and the historic Lakeside home were also stops, connected by a tunnel system underground.
Mount Gilead Church in New Hope, the first all-African-American congregation in the county, was another crucial spot. From 1830 to 1840, the congregation grew from 70 members to 162. Runaway slaves from Delaware, Maryland, and the Carolinas moved to live remotely in Buckingham Mountain.
Quakertown’s Richard Moore House, owned by a local potter Richard Moore, housed many runaway slaves with the help of Henry Franklin, a former slave. The pair helped 600 individuals reach their freedom. The now private residence can be seen from the street.
Read about other crucial spots along the Underground Railroad that can be visited in Bucks County in Visit Bucks County.
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