The majority of passengers on the Underground Railroad were slaves
escaping to freedom.
The Underground Railroad was a secret network organized by people who helped men, women and children escape from slavery to freedom. It provided hiding places, food and transportation for the fugitives.
The escaping slaves were called the passengers and the helpers conductors or engineers.
Henry 'box' Brown was born as a slave in Virginia. In order to escape slavery, he was put into a wooden box in which he traveled in a variety of wagons, railroads, steamboats, ferries and a delivery wagon. He arrived safely in Philadelphia. He became the symbol of the Underground Railroad Freedom Movement that helped many slaves escape from slavery to slavery free states.
