The John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum is a 20acre historical site located in Puce, now Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada, about 25 miles east of Windsor.Make John Freeman Walls Historic Site & Underground Railroad Museum a part of your Lakeshore vacation plans using our Lakeshore travel itinerary planner.
To some the Underground Railroad is thought to be just that, a series of underground railroads that were built to hide and transport former slaves that were seeking to escape from the southern areas of the United States. In actuality it was a web of hidden, interconnected, man-made paths that were shrouded by forests and brush which assisted in the concealment of former slaves until they could reach a Refugee Terminal. These routes had two things in common. They all headed north and towards the free soil of the northern United States and Canada; and at various points along the way they all intersected with Refugee Terminals where runaway slaves could take shelter and would be given food and clothing. Despite the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which stated that “any federal marshal who did not arrest on demand any person believed to be a runaway slave could be fined $1000. As for the runaway slaves themselves, they would be arrested and stripped of any and all civil rights”. During the era of the Underground Railroad, the site was among one of several major termini in Southwestern Ontario for fugitive slaves. These locations represented the end of a slave's long journey to freedom where he/she could receive shelter and support until they were ready to move on and begin their own new lives in Canada. As it developed, the site became an important nexus for both the local black community and newly arrived fugitive slaves from the southern United States. Today, many of the original buildings remain, and in 1985, the site was opened as an Underground Railroad Museum. The site forms part of the African-Canadian Heritage Tour in Southern Ontario.
Source
John Freeman Walls Historic Site & Underground Railroad Museum reviews
-
If you want to step back in time and feel what it was like to be a part of the Underground Railway, this is the place to go!
If you want to step back in time and feel what it was like to be a part of the Underground Railway, this is the place to go! more »
-
This is a very interesting museum and historic site with authentic structures from the Underground railroad to freedom. It is run by Dr. Bryan Walls, a direct decedent of John Freeman Walls; the...
This is a very interesting museum and historic site with authentic structures from the Underground railroad to freedom. It is run by Dr. Bryan Walls, a direct decedent of John Freeman Walls; the... more »
-
Better late than never. I've lived in the area for close to 30 years and have driven by the John Freeman Walls Historic Site many times, always saying that I would drop in for a tour one day. Well, I finally made along with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. We had the please of meeting the founder of the museum Dr. Bryan Walls along with two young family members who were our tour guide. If we don't seek to know our history we are susceptible to repeat it. In encourage you not to wait as long I did to find out not only some local history but the very essence of what it was like to be a black slave in days past. The museum would be grateful for presence as well as any contribution you might offer to keep this valuable piece of history alive and well for generations to come. God bless you.
-
Brian and Ana were the most gracious tour guides. Even though I had come before they officially opened, they gave me a full tour of the area because I was from out of town. They blend the history of the Underground Railroad, their personal history (they are descendants of escaped slaves), and the history of the MLK civil rights movement beautifully. With a positive focus on freedom and partnership, this site is must.
Plan your trip to Lakeshore
Get a personalized tripA full day by day itinerary based on your preferences Customize itRefine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedules Book itChoose from the best hotels and activities. Up to 50% off Manage itEverything in one place. Everyone on the same page.Know more
Popular things to do in Lakeshore
Side trips from Lakeshore
Trips in John Freeman Walls Historic Site & Underground Railroad Museum by other users
61 days in Windsor
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Walkerville Brewery
Olde Walkerville Neighborhood
Dieppe Gardens
22 days in Windsor
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Windsor Riverfront
Dieppe Gardens
Olde Walkerville Neighborhood
27 days in Kingsville
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Lee and Maria's
Aleksander Estate Winery
Thiessen Orchards
16 days in Windsor
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens
Willistead Manor
Via Italia
59 days in Windsor
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Dieppe Gardens
Windsor Riverfront
Distillery Tours
22 days in Windsor
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Distillery Tours
Via Italia
Dieppe Gardens