Friday, October 12, 2007

The New York Underground Railroad





The New York Times has a great video tour of places in Brooklyn that many believe may have been stops on the Underground Railroad. These were buildings in which escaped slaves could hide as they traveled north to freedom.

Though it's not profiled in the video, Bialystoker Synagogue in Manhattan (shown above) is also thought to have played a role in the abolitionist movement back in the days when it was known as the Willett Street Church.

According to the synagogue's website, "In the corner of the women’s gallery there is a small break in the wall that leads to a ladder going up to an attic, lit by two windows. Legend has it that the synagogue was a stop on the Underground Railroad and that runaway slaves found sanctuary in this attic." Oddly enough, they don't mention what lies UNDER the building.

4 comments:

Nina said...

Well that is pretty interesting

Spring said...

Reminds me of the Empress's Tomb!

International Mastermind said...

Ooh... Maybe the government is keeping it a secret like the aliens.

Anonymous said...

just like shadow city! only under, under ground.