Home › Historic Sites › Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site ›
Experience the “Grand Central Station” of the Underground Railroad where Quaker couple Levi and Catharine Coffin helped nearly 1,000 freedom-seekers find safety on their journey north. Lay your head in a mock false-bottom wagon to hear what it might have been like hiding in one of these escape tools, try to lift a cotton bale and learn how long slaves would have worked to pick enough hay for one bale. Get hands-on with other activities and educational videos in the interpretive center.
Our programs offer educators resources to supplement the classroom curriculum and e-learning, or to enhance a field trip experience for K-12 students with free, downloadable resources, including exhibit guides, historic site correlations, learning guides, literature connections, community resources and website links.
Call 765.847.1691 to schedule your field trip to Levi and Catharine State Historic Site.
Free Admission
Free for preregistered, accredited schools of 10+ K-12 students, teachers, bus drivers, and one additional adult per five students. Additional chaperones pay the group admission rate.
Free Admission
Free for preregistered groups of 10+ students, including one free adult per five students. Additional adults pay the group rate.
Pre-Registration
All field trips must be booked at least two weeks in advance. This ensures a personalized, engaging experience for your students.
Group Size
A minimum of 10 students is required for field trips.
Lunch
Picnic areas are available, and there are nearby restaurants for students and chaperones.
Contact
Call 765.847.1691 or email [email protected] to schedule your field trip to Levi and Catharine Coffin.
Take your students’ learning experience to the next level with hands-on, interactive educational programs designed to complement classroom lessons. All programs fulfill select Indiana Academic Standards.
Customize Your Visit
Educators may request a specialty program or activity for an additional fee. Programs include art, history, nature, science, engineering and multidisciplinary learning.
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Maximum Group Size
20 students
Cost
$4/student
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Maximum Group Size
25 students
Cost
$4/student
Take a look at our collected educator resources from across the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.
Our programs are designed to engage students with history in an integrated way. We focus on core educational themes that meet Indiana Academic Standards for multiple grade levels, including:
The school group tour includes a self-guided tour of the Levi and Catharine Coffin Interpretive Center, which includes an orientation theater and the “Souls Seeking Safety” exhibit. A guided tour of the Coffin’s 1839 home, once known as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad, will provide students with information about the Coffins’ contributions during the Abolitionist movement, free Black communities, the many dangers facing freedom-seekers and those who helped them.
Available: On-site
Indiana Academic Standards: Social Studies: K.1.2, K.4.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.3, 1.1.8, 1.2.1, 1.3.8, 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.5, 2.2.7, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.6, 3.2.2, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.3.5, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4, 3.4.7, 3.4.8, 4.1.4, 4.1.6, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.1.15, 4.1.16, 4.2.7, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.3.14, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.7, 5.2.9, 5.2.10, 5.3.12, 5.4.7, 5.4.8, 6.1.7, 6.1.22, 6.1.24, 6.2.6, 6.2.8, 6.4.2, 7.1.6, 8.1.11, 8.1.21, 8.1.22, 8.1.23, 8.1.24, 8.1.27, 8.1.30, 8.2.6, 8.2.7, 8.3.6, 8.3.8, 8.4.3, 8.4.4, 8.4.8, E.1.2, E.1.3, E.1.4, E.1.5, E.1.8, E.2.1, E.2.2, E.2.4, E.4.1, GHW.3.1, GHW.3.2, GHW.3.4, GHW.3.5, GHW.7.1, GHW.7.4, GE-1.2, GE-1.3, GE-3.2, GE-3.7, S.6.7, S.7.3, S.7.4, S.8.2, S.8.3, S.8.7, S.8.8, S.9.1, S.9.2, S.9.4, S.9.5, S.9.6, S.10.2, S.10.6, S.10.8, S.10.9, USG.1.1, USG.2.8, USG.3.10, USG.5.1, USG.5.1, USG.5.2, USG.5.3, USG.5.4, USG.5.6, USH.1.3, USH.1.4, USH.10.2, USH.10.3, USH.10.4, USH.10.5
Learn how Levi and Catharine Coffin were instrumental in creating one of the most successful Indiana Underground Railroad safehouses. Enjoy a tour of the Coffin home, receive helpful curriculum, and hear from writer Randall Wisehart who will guide educators through his young adult novel “Luke’s Summer Secret” for classroom use, which features the Coffins and their Underground Railroad experiences.
Available: June 24, 2025
Fee: Free
This program has been made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Can’t visit our location with your students for a guided tour? Book a virtual tour! View an introductory film about the Coffins and then see the actual home where nearly 1,000 freedom-seekers attained shelter, food, clothing and more. After students get a chance to see the house, there is time at the end of the session for questions.
The following will need to be provided by the school: internet access, ZOOM application, camera and projection screen.
Available: Virtual, Mondays only
Fee: $150 per booking
Indiana Academic Standards: Social Studies: K.1.2, K.4.1, 1.1.3, 1.1.8, 1.2.1, 1.2.4, 1.3.8, 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.5, 2.2.7, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.6, 3.2.2, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.3.5, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4, 3.4.7, 3.4.8, 4.1.4, 4.1.6, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.1.15, 4.1.16, 4.2.7, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.3.14, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.7, 4.4.8, 5.2.9, 5.2.10, 5.3.12, 5.4.7, 5.4.8, 6.1.17, 6.1.22, 6.1.24, 6.2.6, 6.2.8, 6.4.2, 7.1.6, 8.1.11, 8.1.21, 8.1.22, 8.1.23, 8.1.24, 8.1.27, 8.1.30, 8.2.6, 8.2.7, 8.3.6, 8.3.8, 8.4.3, 8.4.4, 8.4.8, E.1.2, E.1.3, E.1.4, E.1.5, E.1.8, E.2.1, E.2.2, E.2.4, E.4.1, E.8.5, GHW.3.1, GHW.3.2, GHW.3.4, GHW.3.5, GHW.7.1, GHW.7.4, GE-1.2, GE-1.3, GE-3.2, GE-3.7, S.6.7, S.7.3, S.7.4, S.8.2, S.8.3, S.8.7, S.8.8, S.9.1, S.9.2, S.9.4, S.9.5, S.9.6, S.10.2, S.10.6, S.10.8, S.10.9, USG.1.1, USG.2.8, USG.3.10, USG.5.1, USG.5.2, USG.5.3, USG.5.4, USG.5.6, USH.1.3, USH. 1.4, USH.10.2, USH.10.3, USH.10.4, USH.10.5
A curriculum designed to complement both a virtual and in-person visit to the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site can be downloaded below. Activities will focus on Indiana’s role with the Underground Railroad as well as introduce students to primary and secondary resources to aid in the understanding of why the Underground Railroad was needed.
Lay your head in a mock false-bottom wagon to hear sounds of what it would have been like hiding in one of these escape tools. Try to lift a cotton bale, and learn about how slaves worked about one week to pick enough cotton for one bale.
Here you will learn about the history behind this historic site in an orientation video. Afterwards, tour the building (Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to learn even more about the Coffins’ role in helping thousands find their way to freedom.
Escaping slaves were well hidden for their travels in wagons like this one, equipped with false-bottoms and used to transport freedom-seekers to the next safe house.
We look forward to welcoming your students to the Levi and Catharine State Historic Site, where art, nature, and history come alive. Call us at 765.847.1691 to book your trip or send us an email at the link below.
