For Teachers: Activities and Lesson Plans:
Make an Underground Railroad Trunk

Henry Box Brown literally mailed himself to freedom.  In 1848 he crawled into a box that measured 36” long, 24” wide and 32” deep with only a few biscuits and some water to tide him over.  His friend, Samuel Smith, a Richmond, Virginia shoe dealer, nailed the box shut and addressed it to William H. Johnson, a Philadelphia abolitionist.  Brown traveled inside the box for 26 hours.  After the box arrived at its destination, it was pried open. Brown stood up and asked “how do you do gentlemen?”

You can build your own Underground Railroad trunk and fill it with the kinds of items a slave would have taken on his or her journey.  Use the story of Henry Box Brown to introduce the variety of ingenious ways slaves found to escape.

HAVERSACK – Slaves who escaped on foot would have carried their essential possessions over their shoulder in a pouch called a haversack.

FOOD – If they had access to the pantry, slaves would pack away biscuits, dried ham and fruit for their long journey.  In many cases, they had to fend for themselves in the forest, looking for edible fruits and nuts.

HOLLOWED OUT GOURD – Gourds were often hallowed out and used as drinking implements on the plantation.  The Drinking Gourd also held special meaning for enslaved Africans.  It referred to the “Big Dipper” constellation in the sky.  As soon as they were old enough to understand, slave children were taught to local Polaris, or the North Star, by using the stars of the Big Dipper.

TIN CUP, PLATE – Simple eating utensils would have been packed in the haversack.

CLOTHING – Depending upon the region or the wealth of the planters, slaves’ clothing varied.  Simple shirts made of homespun fabric, drawstring pants, shift dresses, aprons and vests (for men) were common. 

BLANKET OR SHAWL – A young girl or woman would have taken a shawl to keep warm and use as a disguise, if needed.

RAG DOLLS OR PRIMITIVE TOYS – It was rare for families to escape intact, but small children sometimes did go along with their parents.  Harriet Jacobs, a slave who spent seven years hidden in her grandmother’s attic before escaping to New York, fashioned a kind of African rag doll that is still being made today.

QUILT BLOCK – Explain the hidden meanings found in quilts.  According to legend, patterns such as monkeywrench, wagon wheel, bear’s paw, crossroads, north star and drunkard’s path contained specific instructions on when and where to go.  

KEEPSAKE – The Underground Railroad for the most part pre-dates photography, so it is unlikely a runaway would have pictures of loved ones.  They would, however, have found comfort by taking along a piece of jewelry, African talisman or other family keepsake.

TOOLS – Rudimentary tools such as a corn knife, strips of leather and hemp twine.

*Based on an idea implemented by the York County Heritage Trust, York Pennsylvania