Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum

12/25/2025

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE WASHINGTON NC WATERFRONT UNDERGROUD RAILROAD MUSEM. 🎄🎄🎄

09/12/2025

We are closed today Friday 9/12 and Saturday 9/13 for a much-needed vacation for our volunteers.

07/12/2025

Yesterday at the museum was one of the most remarkable days we have experienced in the nine years we have been open.

We had many visitors, including one from Sweden. There were also from New Bern, one Black couple and a White couple from Maryland. They had never met each other. The White couple shared how they had ancestors that fought at the Harper's Ferry Raid incident and whose name is listed on a documentary monument. The Black couple shared how their grandmother who is 114 years old, recounted the Harper's ferry incident with Abolitionist john Brown about an enslaved family member who was a part of the Harper's Ferry Raid. The two couples exchanged information and will share with each other their ancestor's role in this amazing history of our country.
The Incident:
On the evening of October 16, 1859 John Brown, a staunch abolitionist, and a group of his supporters left their farmhouse hide-out en route to Harpers Ferry. Descending upon the town in the early hours of October 17th, Brown and his men captured prominent citizens and seized the federal armory and arsenal. Brown had hopes that the local slave population would join the raid and through the raid’s success weapons would be supplied to slaves and freedom fighters throughout the country; this was not to be. First held down by the local militia in the late morning of the 17th, Brown took refuge in the arsenal’s engine house. However, this sanctuary from the fire storm did not last long, when in the late afternoon US Marines under Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived and stormed the engine house, killing many of the raiders and capturing Brown. Brown was quickly placed on trial and charged with treason against the state of Virginia, murder, and slave insurrection. Brown was sentenced to death for his crimes and hanged on December 2, 1859.

The Plan:
John Brown, a fervent abolitionist, believed that violence was necessary to end slavery. He targeted Harpers Ferry, hoping to seize weapons and inspire enslaved people to revolt.

Come join us at the museum, while we have an abundance of local Black history housed at the museum, we learn and experience so much from our amazing visitors.

07/11/2025

https://www.globaltravelerusa.com/blog/black-history-month-in-north-carolina/

North Carolina has a rich tapestry of history, particularly regarding its role in the American Civil Rights Movement and the Underground Railroad. The Explore the Road to Freedom NC app is a useful guide to help discover important historical sites throughout the state. There is also a version of the...

05/31/2025

https://video.pbsnc.org/video/the-underground-railroad-the-paths-places-of-refuge-awapxj/
Washington NC's activity on the Underground Railroad is featured in this documentary. (The producer got my name wrong though.😍)

Trace the dynamic journeys of enslaved individuals from slavery to freedom through personal accounts

04/16/2025

The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is mentioned in this article.❤️❤️❤️

With a population hovering around 10,000 and a charming historic setting on the Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina is an idyllic waterfront town worth visiting. From gorgeous architecture to water activities to excellent restaurants, these are the best things to check out in Washington, North...

02/08/2025

01/25/2025

The Washington NC Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is small yet mighty with amazing history. And while we are not as large as these museums listed in this article, we've got great stories to tell. February we'll be showcasing stories of the amazing African American women right here in Washington, some long before the Civil War.

These Black women made historic and civic contributions to the U.S.

01/17/2025

"CODE SWITCHING (DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING)"
We're on the road again! This time to share our new presentation "Code Switching (Do you see What I'm Saying?" Enslaved people sent freedom seeking messages like holding a rutabaga in the air. Someone could see the rutabaga and have no idea what message was being conveyed. But if a freedom seeker was in on the plan, they knew exactly what the rutabaga signified.
Please join us and learn more about cleverly disguised freedom seeking messages.

SAVE THE DATE: February 22, 2025.
The African American Heritage Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina and the City of Northwest;
Presents: Lisa Jones and The Underground Railroad Waterfront Museum of Washington, North Carolina
This is an educational piece and a learning experience you'll want to have around the table with your children. So bring the whole family. Everyone is invited!!!
(DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING)

11/15/2024

Did you know the Washington NC Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is a NC African American Heritage Site listed under the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Site with other sites across the state?

09/15/2024

CELEBRACION MES NACIONAL DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA
CELEBRATING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
FELIZ MES DE LAS HERENCIA HISPANA
HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
DE LA WASHINGTON WATERFRONT FERROCARRIL SUUBTERRANEO MUSEO
FROM THE WASHINGTON WATERFRONT UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM

***Check out our Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit at the Brown Library***