Fountain City in Wayne County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Levi Coffin
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 28, 2007
1. Front Side of Marker
Levi Coffin (1798-1877), a Quaker abolitionist, lived in Newport (now Fountain City) with his family 1826-1847. Moved from North Carolina because he and his wife, Catharine, opposed slavery. Advocated, and sold in his store, free-labor products not produced by slaves. House built circa 1839; designated a National Historic Landmark 1966.
Coffin's Reminiscences (1876) documented work in Underground Railroad and antislavery movement.
The Underground Railroad refers to a widespread network of diverse people in the nineteenth century who aided slaves escaping to freedom from the southern U.S.
Erected 2002 by Indiana Historical Bureau and Levi Coffin House Association, Inc. (Marker Number 89.2002.1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers, the National Historic Landmarks, and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 39° 57.373′ N, 84° 55.051′ W. Marker is in Fountain City,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest 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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Home of Levi Coffin (here, next to this marker); Fountain City Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Memoriam (approx. 5.1 miles away); Indiana University East (approx. 6.3 miles away); Whitewater Hall (approx. 6.3 miles away); The Four Boulders (approx. 6.9 miles away); Hollansburg, Ohio (approx. 7.2 miles away in Ohio); Sgt William Brodrick (approx. 7.4 miles away in Ohio). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fountain
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 28, 2007
2. Back Side of Marker
Also see . . .
1. Levi Coffin Historic Site. The "Grand Central Station" for the Underground Railroad. (Submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Reminiscences of Levi Coffin. Digital copy of the work. (Submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. The Underground Railroad by Levi Coffin. A short account of Coffin's operations. (Submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 28, 2007
3. The Levi Coffin House
The marker stands in front of the house, on the right.
Photographed by Tom Bosse, June 3, 2023
4. Levi Coffin Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 28, 2007
5. Back of the Levi Coffin House
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 28, 2007
6. National Register of Historic Landmarks
Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,202 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on July 4, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 5, 6. submitted on January 3, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
