Alt Text

Map of the United States in 1860 with routes from southern to northern states indicated with arrows to represent the Underground Railroad. Most of the map is light or dark brown, and two states in the northeast are shaded with blue.

Extended Description

The map encompasses the continental United States with Canada to the north, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Bahama Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands off the southeast tip of Florida.

Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and states south of those are dark brown to represent Southern states permitting slavery in 1860. California, Oregon, and surrounding territories to the west and north are lighter brown, as are Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. New York and New Jersey are shaded blue, indicating Northern states that permitted slavery in 1790. The states in New England are the lighter brown.

Russet-orange lines begin in southern states and sweep north to northern states or south to Mexico or the Greater Antilles islands off of Florida. From here, this description will focus on the main movements along the east coast before moving westward across the middle of the United States to the west coast.

East Coast

One main line begins in southern Georgia and arrows branch off to Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia, the Everglades in Florida, and the Bahama Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti. Another line jumps from the Virgin Islands, easternmost of the Greater Antilles islands, to neighboring Puerto Rico.

Another line begins in Savannah, Georgia and moves north to Wilmington, Delaware; New York City; New Bedford, Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts; and sites north past Maine in Canada. A short line from Charleston, South Carolina curves south to the coast of Florida, but the main trunk goes north, joining the one from Savannah. Another line from the interior of Georgia and South Carolina sweeps northward, while a short spur branches off and points toward Great Dismal Swamp. Another line angles northeast from Tennessee to join the aforementioned line and forms a network between Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City; New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Boston, Massachusetts. More branches extend northwest across Pennsylvania and New York, going through Rochester in the latter, before pointing to southern Canada.

Middle of the Country

Lines from Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Kentucky sweep north through Cincinnati and Cleveland in Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and St. Louis, Missouri. The lines skirt across the corners of Indiana and Illinois. Most lines in this area end up crossing into Canada through Detroit or the Great Lakes. One line departs Missouri to cut through Iowa and then Wisconsin and Minnesota.

One of two lines in Louisiana points south toward the Bayous. Natchez and New Orleans are also labeled in this area. The second of the two lines starting in Louisiana travels southwest through Texas into Mexico.

Another line in Arkansas leads west into Indian Territory. One of two lines converging or departing in Texas leads south to Mexico, and the second moves north through Indian Territory into Kansas Territory. The final line in Texas points west to New Mexico territory.

West Coast

The last set of lines sweeps along the west coast of North America. In the Pacific Ocean, a short branch of an orange line points west and is labeled “To Hawaii.” The line continues north along the Mexican and then California coast, where it points to areas near the bay areas about halfway up the state. Another line continues out of Washington Territory north into Canada.

Legend

A legend in the lower center of map reads as follows:

Dark orange arrow for Approximate route of flight,

Earth brown for Southern states permitting slavery in 1860, and

Blue for Northern states permitting slavery in 1790.

Text that follows reads, “1860 US state and territory boundaries are shown.” A scale below measures 100, 200, 300, and 400 kilometers and 100, 200, 300, and 400 miles.