Gurnee in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Underground Railroad in Illinois

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 9, 2026

1. Underground Railroad in Illinois Marker

Inscription. Illinois played a significant role in the Underground Railroad. A large number of the slaves who came to Illinois escaped from Kentucky and Tennessee with the majority fleeing from Missouri. Although most Underground Railroad passengers reached Illinois by crossing the Mississippi River, the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio Rivers were also important "water highways" as was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Alton, Cairo, Chester, and Rock Island were frequent entry points to Illinois for many slaves as they made their way to Canada.

Chicago, Galesburg, and Quincy were probably the best-known Underground Railroad cities in Illinois. Chicago was known as the center of the Underground Railroad activity, allowing easy access to Lake Michigan and Wisconsin.

There has been Underground Railroad activity documented in each of these Illinois counties: Alexander, Bond, Cook, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Marshall,. McDonough, McHenry, McLean, , Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Randolph, Rock Island, Sangamon, Stark, Tazewell, Vermillion, Washington, Wayne, Whiteside,

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and Woodford.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Illinois & Michigan Canal series list.

Location. 42° 22.364′ N, 87° 55.117′ W. Marker is in Gurnee, Illinois, in Lake County. It can be reached from Kilbourne Road near Old Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in the ruins of the Mother Rudd Barn. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4690 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee IL 60031, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 15 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Journey (here, next to this marker);

Mother Rudd Barn ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 9, 2026

2. Mother Rudd Barn ruins

Several markers have been erected inside the ruins of this barn, which was used in pre-Civil War times as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Timeline (a few steps from this marker); Underground Railroad (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Timeline (a few steps from this marker); The Mother Rudd Barn (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Mother Rudd Barn (a few steps from this marker); "Lamp of Liberty" (a few steps from this marker); Lake County's First African American Settler (a few steps from this marker); Esper A. Petersen (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); American Legion Post 771 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Logger's Run (approx. 0.8 miles away); Aquaman Splashdown (approx. 0.8 miles away); Fiddler's Fling (approx. 0.8 miles away); DC Super-Villains Swing (approx. 0.8 miles away); Amos Bennett (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gurnee.

More about this marker. The marker is one of seven inside the ruins of the Mother Rudd Barn. The barn is just north of the Mother Rudd House, which serves today as the home of the Warren Township Historical Society. There are two other markers in front of the ruins: one about this barn's history as an Underground Railroad stop, and

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 9, 2026

3. Mother Rudd Barn ruins

The marker on the left is about the barn's use as a stop on the Underground Railroad; the one on the right is about Lake County's first settler, Amos Bennett. Markers inside the ruins discuss the Underground Railroad.

another about Lake County's first African-American settler.

Also see . . . Illinois Underground Railroad. From Enjoy Illinois, the state's official tourism website. (Submitted on August 10, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.