Stafford in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Early Escape Route
Trail to Freedom
Photographed By Kevin W., February 19, 2011
1. Early Escape Route Marker
The opening of the rail line to Aquia in 1842 provided opportunity for slaves seeking freedom. In 1848, slaves William and Ellen Craft of Georgia embarked on their dangerous journey to escape. Ellen, born of a slave mother and a white father, disguised herself as a white man seeking medical treatment in the North. William assumed the role of her body servant. They traveled by train, carriage, and steamship from Georgia to Philadelphia, passing unchallenged through Aquia Landing. They reached Philadelphia — and freedom — on Christmas day 1848.
Three months later, Henry "Box" Brown became one of the most famous fugitives in American history. A slave in Richmond, Brown packed himself in a wooden box to be mailed to freedom. By wagon, train, and steamboat, Brown traveled north, sometimes upside down. After 27 hours and undetected passage through Aquia Landing, the Express Mail box carrying Henry Box Brown was delivered in Philadelphia, its occupant a slave no more.
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this page online
Erected 2011 by Stafford County and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is March 30, 1841.
Location. 38° 23.372′ N, 77° 18.945′ W. Marker is in Stafford, Virginia, in Stafford County. Marker is on Brooke Road (County Route 608). Marker is in Aquia Landing County Park (formerly Aquia-Po Beach Park). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2846 Brooke Rd, Stafford VA 22554, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Steamships, Stages and Slave Trade (here, next to this marker); Gateway to Freedom (here, next to this marker); Aquia Landing (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Aquia Landing (within shouting distance of this marker); Patawomeck Tribe Village (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Aquia Landing (approx. half a mile away); History of the Patawomeck Indians (approx.
February 19, 2011
2. Picture of Henry Box Brown on the Early Escape Route Marker
"Brown travelled with a bladder of water and a small hand drill for air holes. After his escape to freedom, Henry Brown forever became known as "Box" Brown."
Picture provided for the marker by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Picture provided for the marker by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Also see . . . Trail to Freedom web site. (Submitted on February 7, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
February 19, 2011
3. Portraits on the Early Escape Route Marker
"Sketches of William and Ellen Craft as they appeared in the 1870s."
Portraits provided for use on the marker by the Arnold Bernhard Library, Quinnipiac University.
Photographed By Shane Oliver, March 5, 2022
4. Early Escape Route Marker
Text has been updated slightly. The word "slave" has been replaced with "enslaved".
Photographed By Kevin W., February 19, 2011
5. Three Trail to Freedom markers are collocated here.
The Early Escape Route Marker is the one in the middle.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,302 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 6, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 23, 2022, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on February 6, 2011, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.
