Timeline: UnderGround Railroad | Timetoast

Period: May 21, 1780 to May 21, 1870

UnderGround Railroad Timeline
May 21, 1790

Underground Railroad Begins

William Still, “father” of the Underground Railroad, begins helping fugitive slaves
May 21, 1820

First long distance route established

Levi Coffin establishes first long distance route from North Carolina to Indiana
May 21, 1826

Indiana Quakers hide fugitive slaves

Indiana Quakers use secret rooms and false-bottom wagons to hide fugitive slaves
May 21, 1831

William L. Garrison's anti-slavery newspaper crusade

William L. Garrison’s anti-slavery newspaper crusade sways countless Americans
May 21, 1833

American Anti-Slavery Society founded

American Anti-Slavery Society founded by Theodore Dwight Weld
May 21, 1839

NYC Underground helps 1,000 fugitive slaves

David Ruggles and Isaac Hopper work together to build NYC Underground to help 1,000 fugitive slaves
May 21, 1841

Dawn Institute established

Fugitive slave Josiah Henson establishes Dawn Institute, where fugitive slaves learn trades and adjust to free society
May 21, 1850

Harriet Tubman escaped

Harriet Tubman escaped, became most famous Underground “conductor”
May 21, 1853

Northerners increasingly ignored federal law

Northerners increasingly ignored federal law and supported Underground efforts
May 21, 1861

Civil War began

South Carolina troops fire on Fort Sumter; Civil War begins