This September, the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site will celebrate International Underground Railroad Month with discounted admission during Levi Coffin Days, tours and a literary discussion on a classic abolitionist novel.
International Underground Railroad Month raises awareness for people and places that served an important role in the secret network that was active from 1800-65 and assisted freedom-seekers escaping from slavery. Started in Maryland in 2019, it has been recognized in Indiana since 2021 as a way to honor the contributions the Coffins and other Hoosier abolitionists made to the anti-slavery movement.
The Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site tells the story of the Quaker couple who provided shelter, transportation, food and medical care to more than 1,000 freedom-seekers during the 20 years they lived in Fountain City (then Newport). As visitors explore the Coffins’ simple, red-brick home, they can discover how their house into what became known as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad. The home is open for guided tours Wednesday through Sunday year-round.
For 58 years, the site has joined Fountain City in celebrating its deep connections to the Underground Railroad during the Levi Coffin Days festival.
Throughout the annual outdoor event, hosted by the Fountain City Lions Club, families can enjoy live performances, vendor booths, delicious food and a parade honoring the brave actions of Levi, Catharine and the many Fountain City residents who assisted freedom-seekers over the years. During the festival, the site will offer guided tours at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., with an additional tour at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 21. Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance by calling the site at 765.847.1691. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admission is free for members of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, $12 per adult, $7 for youth ages 3-17 and $10 per senior. During Levi Coffin Days on Sept. 20-21, visitors can enjoy a $2 discount on admission.
Additionally, community members are invited to discuss one of the 19th century’s most influential abolitionist novels during Uncle Tom’s Cabin: An American Classic. When it was published in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s groundbreaking and controversial novel exposed many Americans to the experiences of enslavement and freedom-seeking, even increasing abolitionist sentiment prior the American Civil War. For the discussion, led by Dr. John Getz from the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, attendees will explore the novel’s cultural impact, its revival by feminist critics and the story’s relevance to today’s readers. Tickets are $10 per adult and $7.50 for members.
