National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

In 1998, legislation titled the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 was passed, creating the Network to Freedom program. This program honors, preserves and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom helps to advance the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.

The program is a catalyst for innovation, partnerships, and scholarship connecting the diverse legacy of the Underground Railroad across boundaries and generations. The program consists of sites, programs, and facilities with a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad. There are currently over 800 Network to Freedom locations in 41 states, plus Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

To learn about the history of the Network to Freedom Program and how we define the Underground Railroad we invite you to visit: Underground Railroad (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)