Underground Railroad
For decades, there was speculation as to Boone County, Kentucky’s role in regional Underground Railroad (UGRR) activities, but little to no evidence. Dedicated research began in earnest in 2013, and information began to emerge about many UGRR escapes and attempted escapes of freedom seekers both from and through Boone County. Resources such as the Wilber H. Siebert Collection at the Ohio Historical Society, provided clues as to the crossing points, possible routes and the key players in Boone County's UGRR history. Other sources such as newspaper accounts of escapes, court cases involving freedom seekers, obituries and county records add to the unfolding story.
The research is an ongoing process. There is evidence of over 100 UGRR incidents between 1799 and 1865 in Boone County alone and new discoveries continue to be made, but further research is necessary to confirm these historic events . An ongoing effort is being made by researchers at the Borderlands Archive and History Center at BCPL to uncover new information and share it with the public, both online and in our programs.