Racine in Racine County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Racine's Underground Railroad Maritime Link

Photographed by Lugnuts

1. Racine's Underground Railroad Maritime Link Marker

Inscription. In the mid-1800s, fugitive slaves traveled to Racine, hid in local sanctuaries, and embarked on the maritime connection of the Underground Railroad. Ships of abolition-friendly Great Lakes captains took them to Canadian ports and their freedom. The best known fugitive was Joshua Glover, who found safety in the Racine harbor warehouse of Achas P. Dutton in early April 1854. Dutton himself conducted more than a hundred fugitives in over 20 years. This marker commemorates those fugitive slaves who are known, and those whose stories remain forever untold.

Erected 2005 by National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Network to Freedom series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1854.

Location. 42° 43.992′ N, 87° 46.726′ W. Marker is in Racine, Wisconsin, in Racine County. It can be reached from Lake Michigan Pathway. On a point overlooking Racine Harbor, accessible only by pedestrian walkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Gaslight Point Pile Wall, Racine WI 53403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Armour's Livery Stable (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Racine Harbor (approx. 0.4 miles away); Robert J. Goebel, Lt. Col. USAF

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Racine Elks Club, Lodge No. 252 (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Racine, Wisconsin (approx. half a mile away); Jerome Increase Case / Mascot and Trademark (approx. half a mile away); Joshua Glover (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Racine.

Additional keywords. maritime

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 4, 2019

2. Racine's Underground Railroad Maritime Link Marker

Photographed by Lugnuts, June 4, 2019

3. Racine's Underground Railroad Maritime Link Marker

"Two Hundred Dollar Reward" - advertisement for the return of Joshua Gover <i>(click to enlarge)</i> image. Click for full size.

St. Louis Missouri Republican (newspaper) (image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society)

4. "Two Hundred Dollar Reward" - advertisement for the return of Joshua Gover (click to enlarge)

"When Joshua Glover escaped from slavery in Missouri in the spring of 1852, his owner, Bennami Garland, placed this advertisement in the St. Louis Missouri Republican. Glover made his way secretly to Wisconsin via the underground railroad, where Garland pursued and ultimately arrested him almost two years later, in Racine." - Wisconsin Historical Society

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2019, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,161 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2019, by Lugnuts of Germantown, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on June 6, 2019. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.