The Freedom Trail Bucket List
Pittsburgh & Pennsylvania’s Underground Railroad Journey
🕯️ Walk the Paths · Visit the Places · Honor the PeopleHistory Is Not Just Something You Read
The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad — it was a network of secret routes, safe houses, churches, and communities that helped freedom seekers escape slavery. Western Pennsylvania played an important role because of its location near slave states and routes north toward Canada. This summer, walk the paths, visit the places, and honor the people who risked everything for freedom.
Pittsburgh Freedom Stops
Start your freedom trail right here in Pittsburgh — the city that played a vital role in the Underground Railroad network.
Freedom Corner
A powerful gathering place in Pittsburgh's Black history. Freedom Corner became a symbol of activism, justice, and the fight for equality during the Civil Rights era.
Wylie Avenue A.M.E. Church
One of Pittsburgh's historic Black churches and a significant gathering place in the fight against slavery and injustice. In 1850, community members met here to organize resistance against the Fugitive Slave Act.
Senator John Heinz History Center
Visit the From Slavery to Freedom exhibit and explore more than 250 years of African American history in Western Pennsylvania — from slavery and abolition to civil rights and cultural achievements.
John B. Vashon Historical Marker
Honor the legacy of John B. Vashon, a Pittsburgh abolitionist, businessman, and community leader who fought against slavery and supported Black advancement.
Western PA Freedom Road Trip
Explore the hidden chapters of resistance just outside Pittsburgh.
Sewickley Underground Railroad History
Sewickley was home to Underground Railroad activity, including abolitionists who helped freedom seekers traveling through Western Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Freedom Tour
The city where freedom movements were born. Philadelphia was one of the most important Underground Railroad centers in America, with churches, abolitionists, and activists helping freedom seekers.
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
Founded by Richard Allen, Mother Bethel became a major center for Black freedom, faith, and activism. Connected to Underground Railroad efforts and hosted figures including Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Explore exhibits documenting Black life, resistance, culture, and achievement from slavery to today.
President's House Site
Learn about the complicated history of the early presidency, slavery, and the enslaved people who lived and worked there.
William Still Underground Railroad History
Discover the story of William Still, known as the "Father of the Underground Railroad," whose meticulous records documented the journeys of freedom seekers.
Bonus Pennsylvania History Stops
Extend your freedom trail across the Commonwealth.
Gettysburg Black History Sites
Explore the Black experience before, during, and after the Civil War — including the role African Americans played in the fight for freedom.
National Underground Railroad Network Sites
Use the National Park Service's Network to Freedom listings to discover verified Underground Railroad locations across the state.
Check These Off Your Black History Bucket List
History is something you walk, experience, and remember. How many can you complete this summer?
Most People Leave Gettysburg Without Hearing the Full Story.
The Gettysburg Black History Trail tells the stories of the African American men, women, and children who lived, fought, and shaped one of America’s most historic towns — stories that most visitors never hear.
From the United States Colored Troops who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, to the Black residents who built community in Adams County before and after the Civil War — this trail puts their legacy front and center. Add it to your Pennsylvania Freedom Trail road trip.
Presented in partnership with Destination Gettysburg & Adams County, PA
“History is not just something you read. It is something you walk, experience, and remember.”
Pittsburgh Urban MediaPittsburgh Black Bucket List: Freedom Trail Edition
Pittsburgh Urban Media is building an interactive Freedom Trail map with photos, checkboxes, and a completed badge you can share. Know a site that should be included? Tell us.
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