Philadelphia was a high volume stop along the Underground Railroad throughout the early 1800s. Here at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania are documents, images and diaries that hold secrets, connections, and loads of information about the Underground Railroad and those individuals who made it possible. These artifacts are now housed in the same city of Philadelphia, where much of William Still's diary was written, where many ex-slaves came to find a new home, and where abolitionists and other citizens came together as a function of the Underground Railroad.

If you or your students have never heard of the man William Still, or have year after year taught the same lessons about abolition and the underground railroad, then this Digital History Project, Uncovering William Still's Underground Railroad, was designed and made for you. The prototype site is up and running for you to explore the people, places, secrets and road to freedom through the use of primary sources and by the work of historians connecting the dots in history and space for you and your students! You must enter the following login to access the site: Username: hspguest, Password: preview.

All of HSP's digital history projects have been developed to increase ease, accessibility and learning when it comes to our history.  The prototype site also has a special tab especially for you, Educator Tools (Again, type in Username: hspguest, Password: preview), under which you will find HSP unit plans, new ideas, and other fun stuff to bring into your classroom!

Allow this part of history, from 1855 to 1857, to come to life and to bring more meaning to abolition and The Underground Railroad than a simple lesson in history class. The exploration of a historical road to freedom is invaluable to finding meaning in our own paths to the future!