In addition to facilitating communication between people and organizations, producing and disseminating appropriate educational materials, and providing technical assistance to Underground Railroad site, facility, and program elements, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program of the National Park Service is authorized to create the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, or the "Network."

The Network is a diverse collection of elements comprised of historic sites and properties, and facilities and programs that have a verifiable association to the Underground Railroad. It is a significant but distinct part of the Network to Freedom Program. And, it should not be confused with the broader concept of a network of individuals and grass-roots organizations across the United States and internationally who work, often in cooperation with the Network to Freedom Program, to achieve the goals of preserving or protecting elements of the Underground Railroad, or commemorating and educating the public about the Underground Railroad.

Individuals and most grass-roots organizations are ineligible for the Network. Instead, they can be recognized as Network Partners for their significant roles in the Network to Freedom Program. The process to become a Network Partner is distinct from that of the Network described here and is explained in a different section of the Network to Freedom Program.

Elements of the Network

The Network incorporates a broad range of elements that have been nominated and evaluated for their association to the Underground Railroad and have met certain established criteria. Elements included in the Network form part of a database administered by the National Park Service. The Network database is accessible to the general public and serves a varied audience. For example, it can be a valuable research tool for students and scholars investigating the Underground Railroad.

Tourists can access the database to develop an Underground Railroad travel itinerary. Or, people simply looking for the opportunity to experience a living history demonstration or visit an Underground Railroad museum program on a Sunday afternoon, can refer to the database. The reference potential is limitless. Most important, sites, facilities, and programs in the Network are recognized for the significant contribution they make to preserving and commemorating a part of our nation’s heritage and to enhancing our understanding of the Underground Railroad.

Inclusion in the Network does not guarantee that threatened sites will be protected or that preservation will occur. Nor does it guarantee that programs or facilities will receive financial assistance for planning or development. Nonetheless, Network inclusion gives the element National Park Service recognition, which can be used to petition for local, state, or other grant mechanisms, local zoning ordinances, etc., all factors that can contribute significantly to preservation, education, and commemoration efforts. Each element of the Network is authorized to display the Network logo, which will tell the public and all interested entities that the National Park Service has evaluated the site, program, or facility and acknowledges its significant contribution to the Underground Railroad story.

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