ROAD TO FREEDOM: CYOA

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: ESCAPE TO FREEDOM

The Underground Railroad was a series of safehouses run by people with the mission of helping enslaved people escape to freedom. While enslaved people made their way North, they were pursued by slave catchers who got rewards for returning escaped enslaved people to their enslavers. This activity will put you in the shoes of an enslaved person trying to escape to freedom. Some choices will help you get closer to freedom, others will get you caught. Can you escape and claim your freedom?

It is 1844. You are a free African American living in Baltimore, Maryland. Enjoying your 20s, you have a good job, a small place to call your own in the African American neighborhood, and friends you enjoy spending time with. Born free, you are able to read and write as well as anybody else. One day, your boss tells you that there is going to be a party in town, and they have hired you to be the cook. The job pays well and you are excited for the chance to showcase your skill.

You show up to the address and knock on the door. You are welcomed inside. As soon as you hear the door close behind you, a bag is placed over your head and you feel a sharp blow knock you unconscious.

You awake to the sound of a train whistle, and feel yourself being dragged along a wooden walkway. You tell the people dragging you that they can't do this, that you are free. "Not anymore," they reply.

It is 1847. It has been 3 years since your kidnapping. The man who 'bought' you, Tobias Reese, runs a large plantation with around 150 enslaved people, and has a reputation for being one of the 'kinder' ones. When you would try and explain the truth of your situation to him, he would not believe you, but if you could prove it to him then he would gladly help you return home. But one day, Mr. Reese is out riding his horse and takes a bad fall. The doctors say he is not likely to live, which means control of the plantation will fall to his son, Steven. Steven is very different from his father, and has a wild temper. He is known for handing out punishments far beyond what would ever be considered 'fair'. You know Steven will never set you free, no matter what proof you can show him. When you hear that Mr. Reese is expected to die within a month, dread fills you. In that moment, you decide that you will not be going to such a harsh place. You are going to escape. If you can get to the Northern states where slavery is illegal, you can be free. But how?

What is your escape plan ?

Go Alone

Travel with a Group

Wait for Tubman

You have heard that Harriett Tubman, the famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, will be picking up a few of your fellow enslaved people in a week. She is an experienced leader and has led many others to freedom. But while you wait, anything could happen. And many people, especially slave catchers, are looking to capture Tubman for the reward they would get.

You go as soon as you see an opening. Without waiting for others, you won't have anyone to slow you down or get you caught. However, you do not know the ideal path, only that you "follow the river to freedom."

You gather the few people you trust the most. Together, you can gather some supplies that you may need and can work together on the path North. But with more people comes a greater risk you will be discovered.

CAPTURED

You followed the path as best you could, but a group of slave catchers were waiting at the easiest place to cross the river. You care dragged back to the plantation, where you are beaten to set an example for others who are thinking of running away. You missed your chance, and now you don't know if that chance will ever come again.

Try again?

CAPTURED

One of the people in your group gets caught trying to gather supplies. They try to keep the secret, but after enough beatings they give up the rest of the group. The rest of you are beaten to set an example for others who are thinking of running away. You missed your chance, and now you don't know if that chance will ever come again.

Try again?

It is a stressful week waiting for Tubman, but after a week you see the signal: a lantern shining on and off in the distance. You and the other escapees sneak out and find Harriett Tubman waiting for you. She takes you up the river, using a path that is well hidden to avoid the slave catchers. She says she can only take you part of the way, but if you are clever and careful you can find your way. She leaves you some money, a coat, and a hat to replace your slave clothes. Before she departs and she leaves, she gives you this advice: "Follow the Lantern to find our friends. Tell anyone that asks that Moses sent you."

Your group rises early and starts heading towards the place Tubman said the next safehouse was. When you get closer to the town, you recognize it as Fairmont, a town your former enslaver took you to a couple times. The group discusses what to do next. You don't know exactly where the safehouse is, just that it is somewhere in this town. You still do need to be careful about getting caught. Does one of you go alone? Do you all go? When do you go? Do you even go to town, or do you try and skip it and find the next place? You start discussing your plan.

Go alone now

Go with a partner now

You go in alone right away. You don't want to waste time and let any people looking for you catch up. You know how to read, which may come in handy. Plus you have some knowledge of the town, which might help you think of where to look as well as give you a better chance of escaping if things go wrong. But if you go in alone, there is nobody to keep watch and look out for any trouble. You would be on your own.

You and one partner go in together. One of you can talk to people and look for any signs, while the other keeps a lookout for trouble. You go because you can read and because you know the town, and you take another escapee named Jim with you. Twice the people means that there is one more person who might be discovered. Can you count on Jim to keep his cool?

Go alone at sunset

Skip the town

You go in alone at sunset. Waiting till dark means less people around, but also might make you look more suspicious. You know how to read, which may come in handy. Plus you have some knowledge of the town, which might help you think of where to look as well as give you a better chance of escaping if things go wrong. But if you go in alone, there is nobody to keep watch and look out for any trouble. You would be on your own.

Your group skips the town. You have enough supplies to last a few more days, and by now the word may have spread to the town to be on the lookout for runaways. Better to keep your head down until you have put some space between yourself and the plantation. You should be able to find the next place before you run out of food, right?

CAPTURED

You go into a store to get supplies as a white couple is leaving. You buy some food and water at the store, but when you exit you find the white couple who you passed on your way in waiting for you. They point at you and a slave catcher hands them some money, part of the reward for your capture. You are going to be sent to the Reese plantation, and who knows if your chance at freedom will ever come again.

Try again?

CAPTURED

You go in a supply store while your partner Jim keeps watch outside. As you are about to pay, you hear a commotion from outside. A slave catcher is wrestling Jim to the ground as a crowd watches. Before you can react, the slave catcher's partner grabs you as well - he must have entered through the back door of the store. Hopefully the rest of your group can escape, but you and Jim are headed back to the plantations. You will be at the Reese plantation before long, and you don't know if a chance this good will ever come again.

Try again?

CAPTURED

You skip the town, but also do not get any new food and water. What little you have runs out soon after. Your group tries to keep going, but you each get weaker by the day. By the time you hear the dogs barking in the distance, you are too weak to run. You are caught and sent back to the plantation. You will be punished and sent to the Reese plantation before long, and all you can do is hope that this was not your only chance at freedom.

Try again?

You enter the town at dusk. Most people are at home, getting ready to sleep or already sleeping to prepare for the long day of work tomorrow. Houses and stores line the street. some lit from candles burning inside. A church stands tall ahead, standing tall above the neighboring buildings. You think about your options. The store would have supplies that you will need. Churches have a history of offering protection to followers. Could the safehouse literally be a house? You try to remember what Tubman's parting words to you were. Where will you go to look for the safehouse? The church (black door), the store (green door), the alley (between the church and the home), or the home (brown door)?

You knock on the door to the home. A woman answers the door, and a brief look of confusion crosses her face. You quickly tell her that Moses sent you and that you are looking for a place to stay. She pauses, looks around, then invites you in. She brings you to a table in front of a warm fireplace and sets out some food and tea for you. She asks where you are coming from and who else you are traveling with. You tell her about your escape and your companions waiting outside of town. She smiles and says she is glad you all made it this far, and she will get you all taken care of in the morning. She takes you to a spare room and leaves you with a blanket, and you look forward to a restful night of sleep.

Go to sleep

CAPTURED

You awake to the sound of the door to your room being kicked in, followed by a tall angry man entering quickly. "Well now, this is gonna get a nice bit of reward when I get you back to your owner, aint it?" The man drags you from your room, and hands some money to the woman who you saw last night. "You thought I was gonna help you? We believe in keeping our property here. You chose the wrong house." Your mistake ends your attempt at freedom. Through the shock at your sudden capture you wonder, will you ever get another chance?

Try again?

You find a cellar door illuminated by a lantern. Tubman said something about a lantern, so that is a good sign. The door is held shut by a lock, so you decide to investigate. You don't know the combination, but maybe it is worth a try? Or you could go back to the town square and try to find this friend Tubman mentioned.

The lock has 4 wheels, each with numbers on them. Some combination of them must open it, but who knows what it is?

Go back to town square

Try to open the lock

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it.

WRONG

Give up on the lock

Try Again

Success!

Enter the basement

You go through the door and find a priest inside. Startled, he asks "Who are you, what do you want?" You explain you were sent by "Moses", and saw a lantern outside that made you think this was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The relief on his face is clear. "You found the right place. Are you alone?" "No, there are a few of us hiding outside of town" you reply. "Go and get them, and come back as quietly as you can." You do so, and come back to find food and water waiting for you. The priest tells you to eat and drink your fill, get as much rest as you can, and that you will leave after sunset the next day. Relieved, you all smile in between bites, and lie down for a restful night. As the sun begins to set, you all gather your supplies and get ready to set out on the next part of your trip.

Continue your journey

You enter the store right as the man behind the counter is getting ready to close. Over his shoulder you see a couple rows of unlit lanterns. He looks up from the paper in his hand and asks what you need. You take out the money Tubman gave you and ask for some food and water. The worker replies "Right away. I just need to go get the food from the back room. Would you wait here a moment?" He disappears through a door and you wait for your supplies.

You are waiting for your supplies, but should it be taking this long? You start to get nervous. What if this shopkeeper has gone to turn you in? Would he really do that, or are you just being paranoid? Can you afford to leave without additional food and water? Are the supplies worth the risk of being caught? What do you do?

Wait for your supplies

Leave the store

CAPTURED

The shopkeeper comes back with two other men. In his hand is the paper he was reading...and it is a wanted poster with your description on it. The two men grab you and tie your hands with rope. "Thanks for the easy money, and especially for making finding you so easy."Your mistake has gotten you caught. Will your companions escape? Will you ever get another chance at freedom? What kind of punishment waits for you at the plantation? The only answers that come to you are ones that fill you with dread.

Try again?

After you leave the store, you look back through the window and see the shopkeeper come back in with three other white men. He holds up the paper he was reading... it is a wanted poster, with your picture on it! You narrowly avoided capture, and still don't know where the safehouse is. Clearly word of your escape has reached the town, so you have to be careful. Where do you go next? The Church (black door), the house (brown door) or down the alley between the two?

As you approach the door to the church, a glowing lantern swings on a post. This lantern looks like it has been burning for a while, even before the sun started going down. This seems odd, until you remember what Tubman told you before she left: follow the lantern and you will find a friend. This has to be the place, right? You knock on the church door, and after a moment an elderly priest answers the door. "yes, how may the house of God help you tonight?" You remember the message Tubman told you. "Moses sent me", you reply. Moses is Tubman's codename along the Underground Railroad. A look of understanding crosses the man's face, followed by concern. "Not now, too many people still could see. Then everyone would be in danger. Go through the alley at midnight. The lock combination is the year freedom was born. Come back later, Godspeed." And with that, he closes the door.

You follow the priests instructions and head back to your group and wait until midnight. Then you all sneak back towards town, and see the town quiet. You go to the back of the church and see a door that leads downwards next to a lit lantern. The door has a lock on it. The priest gave you a hint to the combination, how hard can it be?

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it. You remember the words of the priest: the lock combination is the year freedom was born.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it. You remember the words of the priest: the lock combination is the year freedom was born.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it. You remember the words of the priest: the lock combination is the year freedom was born.

This lock has 4 numbers, entered left to right. You have to enter the correct numbers in the correct order to open it. You remember the words of the priest: the lock combination is the year freedom was born.

Success!

Enter the basement

You go through the door and find the priest inside. He gestures to a table with food and water on it, and tells you and your companions to help yourselves. "You found the safehouse, opened the lock, well done. I am happy to offer all of you shelter and a place to rest until tomorrow night. Do not travel during the day, I heard some people talking in town to be on the lookout for some runaways in the area. But until then, eat and drink your fill. And when you leave, may God be with you." You all spend some time enjoying the food, and then lie down on a real bed for a good night of rest. As the sun goes down, you all gather your things and set out on the next leg of your journey.

Continue your journey

The next night, your companions leave the church with directions to another safehouse a few miles outside of town. The priest sent you with some food and water to help you on your way. He tells you that to cross into the North, you will need some papers that identify you as free. Luckily, the Underground Railroad has someone who can forge you some fakes that will get you through the checks. He reminds you that lanterns are a signal of safety. You are told about a house nearby where you can get some documents that will help you on your trip. The rest of the group decides to go East and catch a ship North, so you continue on alone.

A few miles outside of town, you find the house the priest pointed you towards. Just like he said, the glowing lanterns indicated this was a friendly place. The farmer comes out to meet you and invites you inside. The farmer says he will have your "free papers" ready in the morning, so you might as well get some food and rest while you wait. "Free Papers" is a name for documents that could prove the legal status of Black Americans as free people, not 'property' as enslaved people were seen. Being caught without them would almost certainly mean being sold into slavery. They might include names, descriptions, or professions. There are many stories where freed African Americans were attacked and their papers stolen or destroyed, with their attackers then selling them into slavery. Papers could be filed with local governments to try and prevent this, but this did not help everyone.

Rest for the night

You awake to the sound of your host shouting at you to wake up and hide. A friend from Fairmont sent their daughter running to warn him that slave hunters looking for you have been searching the town and are on their way to the farm next! You only have a few minutes, and your papers are not ready. These hunters have dogs, so running from them isn't an option. You have to find somewhere to hide, and quick! You have 3 optionsSneak out the back and hide in the barn Go through the doors and hide in the basement Find a place to hide in the main room

Where to hide: Basement

Where to hide: barn

CAPTURED

Your hiding place wasn't good enough. Between the dog and the men, they found you and caught you. Now you will be sent back to the plantation and punished before you are sold. Will you ever get this close to freedom again? You can only hope.

Try again?

Good idea! The wardrobe had a false back for you to hide behind. The ahses from the fireplace and the scent of the herbs hanging in the room kept the dog from smelling you and alerting the hunters. Your host is able to convince the men to leave after they had their search, and you come back out, relieved. Your host is able to finish your papers and gives them to you in exchange for some of the money you got from Tubman. According to your new free papers, your name is Taylor Stevens, and you are a cook heading to your new job. Before your host can finish the papers, he needs to know where you are going. He tells you there are two roads you can take, going northwest and crossing the Ohio River towards Ohio or traveling Northeast along the roads towards Pennsylvania. Both have risks, but both will move you towards freedom.

Cross the river to Ohio

Head to Pennsylvania

After traveling for miles, you come to the border between Virginia and Ohio: the Ohio River. This body of water also serves as the border between free states and slave states. Once you cross this, you will be free! You were told to look for a house with a lantern hanging over the water a few miles down the river., that would be your next safehouse. How DO you cross it though? It is much to far to swim, and you cant risk your papers getting damaged. You can see the outline of a bridge a few miles up the road, but there also is a boat tied up nearby. Surely the owner would not mind you borrowing it for a good cause...

Boat or bridge to Ohio

Use the boat

Use the bridge

You row across the river as quietly as you can. You are so close to freedom, and the last thing you want is to give any pursuers an idea of where you are. Just as described, you see a lantern on a pole hanging over the water, right where your last station master said it would be. A well dressed man calls out to you, asking who sent you. "Moses sent me", you reply. He motions you to come closer, then climbs into your boat. "John Parker, pleasure to meet you" he says. "Keep going along this river a ways, I will get you to Minister Rankin. He will take care of you."

Boat While sailing, see John Parker's lantern. Guides you to Ohio

Let Parker guide you

You get the the river and begin to cross. As you do, you hear the sounds of dogs barking in the distance. The hunters from the house in Fairmont must have figured which way you were most likely going to head. Freedom is so close, what will you do? You can try to find a place to hide, maybe climb a tree and hope they pass by? You could run into free territory, but will these men respect the law or just lie about where they caught you? Or do you jump into the small boat you see and try to escape down river?

Bridge result, pursuit. River, hide, sprint

Hide in a tree

Run as fast as you can

Take the boat

CAPTURED

Hide caught

The dogs take a while you find you, but in the end they do. Your choices are starve in the tree or come down. Death may be tempting, but you believe your chance at freedom will come again someday. You come down and are taken back to the plantation, punished, and sold.

Try Again?

CAPTURED

Sprint caught

As fast as you are, men on horseback and dogs are faster. Even though you are in free territory, they still capture you and tie your hands. "Who is gonna take your word over ours?" they ask, laughing. And sadly, they are right. With no proof aside from your word, they take you back South to the plantation, with punishment and sale waiting for you.

Try Again?

You hop in the boat and start rowing as fast as you can. It isn't long before you can see the dogs on the shoreline, following and barking as you go. Not far behind are the shouts of the hunters. The current is helping you slowly but surely get away from the dogs, but now what? Where do you go? You have no idea where you are.

use small boat to try and cross,

You keep rowing and eventually come upon another person rowing a boat. The hounds can still be heard in the distance, looking for your scent. "Those for you?" a voice from the other boat calls out. "What would make someone decide to take a nice midnight trip down the river?" You aren't sure if you trust the man, but how much of a choice do you have? You know the dogs and hunters are nearby, and this person may still turn out to be a friend. "Moses sent me, trying to get North" you call out. "Lucky I found you then. My name is John Parker. Climb into my boat and lets get you to the minister."

Rescued by John Parker

John Parker guides you up the river, towards a lantern up ahead. When it gets closer you see an elderly gentlemen in the robes of a minister. "Welcome to Ohio. Welcome to free land" he says. The feeling is overwhelming. You made it to the North. The man introduces himself as Minister John Rankin, and he lives in the nearby town of Ripley. He says not only does he have a place you can stay until you decide to move on, but he can help you find a job in Ripley or in nearby Cincinatti. Life is yours now. What will you do with it?

Morning comes to the Rankin House, and you step outside and feel the sunshine on your face. It is your first morning as a free person, and there seems to be a enormous weight lifted from your shoulders. You have used up all the money and supplies Tubman gave you when you were just starting your journey, so you decide to accept Minister Rankin's offer of a job and a place to stay. You join the growing community of escaped enslaved people a few miles away in Cincinatti. This becomes your life for the next 2 years. Working, living, enjoying being able to go where you want when you want. Until 1850. That is when Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Act. This law requires every American, even Northerners, to return any escaped enslaved person in so they can be returned to their enslavers. This means that the freedom you have come to enjoy is at risk. Rankin tells you that it might be time to leave Ohio, and head for Canada.

Stay in Ripley 1850, FSA passes.

Minister Rankin tells you that the next place to go is Pittsburgh. From there you can travel to New York, and then on to Canada. You take out the free papers from the drawer you stored them in when you moved to Cincinatti, pack some supplies and some money you have saved up from your job. With the Fugitive Slave Act in effect, you do not want to take any risks. You should review your Free Papers or find a way to keep out of sight on the way to Pittsburgh.

There are a couple ideas you and the Rankins have to help you hide. You can hide in the wheat to not be visible and maybe avoid being smelled by any dogs, you can hide in the false bottom of the wagon, or you can try and hide in plain sight and sit with the driver, relying on your free papers and your composure to get you through any questions that you get asked along the way.

Well, time to put the papers to the test. As you travel on the road to Pittsburgh, a small group of 3 men stand in the middle of the road blocking your wagon from continuing. David asks them to move out of the way, but they make it clear they are will not until they get to ask you some questions. Hoping to avoid violence, you agree. You hand one of the men your papers. If you get the information on them wrong, it will be clear you are an escaped enslaved person. Hopefully you can remember everything.

What is your name?

Robert Smalls

Jordan Freedman

Taylor Stevens

Hercules Mulligan

Henrietta Smith

What is your job?

Sailor

Blacksmith

Driver

Tailor

Cook

What are you doing out here?

Going to start your new job

Visiting family in Washington DC

Coming home from seeing brother

Going to start a trip as ship's cook in Richmond

Going to visit your mother in Pittsburgh

CAPTURED

When your answers do not match your free papers, the man pulls out a revolver and accuses you of having fakes. David protests, but he is unarmed. The men will take you back to town, compare your appearance and age with any wanted posters. When they find the one for you, they take you back to the plantation you escaped from years ago. You had freedom in your hands, even breathed the free air for a while, but now you are back where you started. Will you get another chance?

Try Again?

Although the man clearly is suspicious, he hands you the papers back. Trying to keep your nerves under control, you take them back and give him a polite nod. David calls for the horses to move and the wagon starts moving again, closer to your destination. It's a good thing you were able to remember all the information on the papers you got years ago. One more obstacle cleared, one step closer to true freedom.

Your hiding place ends up being a good choice. A couple people stop David on the road, but nobody seems to suspect you might be hidden in the wagon. The trip to Puttsburgh takes a couple days but is mostly uneventful.

You want to minimize any chance of being caught on the next leg if your journey, so David takes you to the City Baths. During the day, the Pittsburgh City Baths are a place for the political elite to gather and talk. After dark, the building turns into a place for escaped enslaved people to change their appearance and become harder to capture. You make your stop, get a new look, and find a place to stay with one of the local members of the Underground Railroad. Your old papers won't be as helpful, since the listed job is in the other direction. You get some updated ones, changing your job and listed home to something more local. Your new "home" is Buffalo, New York.

Pittsburgh

You reach Elmira without any troubles. When you arrive, you are met by Underground Railroad agent John Jones. Jones give you a place to stay for the night and gives you directions to Buffalo. Once you get to Buffalo, you are just across the border from Canada. He gives you some encouragement. You are on the last stretch of your journey. True freedom that can't be taken away is just a few miles away. There is a strong community of freedom seekers and Underground Railroad agents in Buffalo. If you can get there, you will almost assuredly get to Canada. Jones tells you that a group of 10 freedom seekers are leaving town together that afternoon. Safety in numbers, he says. But they can't help you if you get found out, just may keep someone from kidnapping you and destroying your papers. You thank Jones for his help and head towards Buffalo.

On the road towards Buffalo your group is stopped by some men. They have a collection of wanted posters in their hands, describing enslaved people who have escaped. Is yours among them? Your nerves start to creep back up. You can't run, one of the men is sitting on a horse. All you can do is wait till you are called and hope you remember the details on your new papers.

What is your name?

Crispus Attucks

Taylor Stevens

Sam Brown

John Laurens

Sally Jefferson

What is your job?

Cook

Builder

Farmer

Shoemaker

Fisherman

Where do you live?

Cincinatti

New York City

Buffalo

Elmira

Pittsburgh

What are you doing out here?

Heading home after visiting a friend in Elmira

Heading to work

Heading home from work

Going to visit a friend in Elmira

Going to work a fishing boat in New York City

Captured

Your answers give away the act. The men take you to City Hall and compare your papers with the ones on file, and find no match. They then take you back to the South. You were so close, just miles away from freedom. But now, all you can do is hope that your chance will come again.

Try Again?

Everyone in your group gives the correct answers to the men at the road, and none of the wanted posters in their hands are for you. You continue along the road until you come to the top of a hill, and see the city of Buffalo stretched out before you. Almost 75,000 people live in this city, many of them helping freedom seekers on their last stop before crossing into Canada. One of your group says they were told they will be meeting a conductor at a the Cataract House in Buffalo. The Cataract is easy to find, since it was the largest hotel in the city. You ask directions and soon you arrive.

Standing in the doorway is Moses herself, Harriet Tubman. The same woman who helped you start your journey years ago turns out to be the same person who will be helping you take your final steps. She welcomes you inside, with a nod to an employee and returns the gesture. The entire staff of the hotel was African American, and would often help enslaved people escape across the river. Some escapes were planned, others were improvised if an enslaved servant visited the hotel. She tells you all to rest while you can, because when night falls she will be back to get you. After waiting what feels like forever, you hear a quiet knock on the door. Tubman is waiting for you group and leads you downstairs and out through a side door. You pass only a couple blocks and down a steep, slippery staircase that takes you to the shore. A small rowboat is tied up, waiting for your group. This is the last step. Successfully cross the river and you are free!

Tubman begins rowing across the fast moving river, quiet but determined. The water moves fast here from the famous waterfalls nearby, and it is very cold at night. Falling overboard could be a deadly accident, whether from drowning or freezing to death. You see lanterns on the shore nearby. Are those workers heading to the new bridge they are building? Or slave hunters patrolling a well known crossing point?

The lights keep moving away from you. The must have been workers after all. The river is not small, but the journey seems to take hours when you know it is much less. Slowly but surely the shore draws nearer. Are you actually going to make it? Is this really the end of your journey?

As you get closer, you start to see a light on the shore. Not just a light though. A lantern. The sign of a friend that has guided you across the whole journey. A group of people are waiting for you on the shore. Maybe they are other people who found freedom in Canada, maybe they have always been free and are here to help. But when your boat lands, they smile and welcome you to Canada. There are hugs and laughter and cheers. Your journey across hundreds of miles, years in the making, has finally come to an end. You are free. But for thousands upon thousands, the freedom you now have is still a dream. You may not be able to bring them to canada yourself, but you promise yourself you will do what you can.

Buffalo (Niagra Falls)

Saint Catherines (freedom)

Did not 100% finish, go through Ohio! Sorry :(

Go through Ohio

Stopped along road, interrogated

Pass detail 1: Name

Pass Detail 2: Destination

Pass Detail 3: Occupation

Failed interrogation, caught

Pass Interrogation, continue to Philadelphia

Philly Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Travel to NYC

NYC: Bowne House

Boston: Liberator

Portland Maine (abyssinian AME)

Saint John, Canada (freedom)

This story is very similar to that of Solomon Northup. Northup was kidnapped in Washington DC, sold into slavery, and spent 12 years as an enslaved person in Louisiana before someone helped him prove he was a free man. He wrote a book about his story called 12 Years a Slave, which was turned into a movie in 2013.