Underground Railroad Education Center

Visit Website Email
194 Livingston Ave. Albany, NY 12210 (518) 621-7793

Overview

Visit one of New York’s most fascinating stops on the Underground Railroad and hear the story of Stephen Myers, who, after gaining his freedom, turned his home into a refuge for people escaping enslavement. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, an award winning historic site and important stop on the Underground Railroad, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service Network to Freedom, and on the New York State Underground Railroad Heritage Trail.

This three-story Greek Revival home welcomed freedom seekers and served as a meeting place for noted abolitionists throughout the course of the 19th century. Stephen Myers was born enslaved in New York State, received his freedom at 18 years of age, and rose to prominence in abolition circles. In the 1840's, he is noted as managing "... the most efficient organization in the state of New York, in the business of aiding the way-worn and weather-beaten refugee from slavery’s shambles…" (David Ruggles, 1844).

Today, the Residence, which is in the midst of an ambitious restoration, is a center for learning. Visitors can experience, through interactive, innovative activities, the challenges that confronted these early civil rights activists. Year round events for students, youth, residents and visitors offer a range of different ways to engage with this compelling story and recognize its relevance for us today.

Sit in the restored front parlor where the Vigilance Committee met, participate in a site-wide scavenger hunt to find clues about the home’s history, or volunteer for preservation projects to keep this important resource vibrant.

For upcoming events: https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/events/

Related Stories