Burkle Estate facts for kids
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| Established | 1997, built in 1849 |
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| Location | 826 N Second St, Memphis, TN |
| Public transit access |  MATA |
The Burkle Estate is a special historic home located at 826 North Second Street in Memphis, Tennessee. It is also known by another important name: the Slavehaven. Many people believe this house was a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a hidden network of safe places that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the northern states. A German immigrant named Jacob Burkle built the house in 1849.
Since 1997, the Burkle Estate has been home to the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum.
Contents
What Was the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad with trains. Instead, it was a secret system of routes and safe houses. These routes helped thousands of enslaved African Americans escape from slavery in the Southern states. They traveled north to free states or to Canada.
People who helped on the Underground Railroad were called "conductors." The safe houses were known as "stations." These brave individuals and secret spots offered food, shelter, and guidance to those seeking freedom. It was a very risky journey, but it offered hope.
The Burkle Estate's Secret Role
Some historians believe the Burkle Estate played a secret role in the Underground Railroad. Jacob Burkle, the man who built the house, was publicly known as a livestock trader and a baker. However, some stories suggest he was also a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad.
Many believe his home was the very last stop in a series of secret Memphis homes. These homes were sometimes connected by hidden tunnels. The Burkle Estate itself has a small cellar. This cellar might have been used to hide enslaved people who were escaping. From here, they could get onto boats. These boats would then take them upriver to other safe stations in the free states, north of the Ohio River.
Visiting the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
The Burkle Estate opened as a museum in 1997. Today, you can take tours of this one-story, white house. Inside, the house is decorated with furniture and items from the 1800s. These items help visitors imagine what life was like back then.
The museum helps us understand the history of the Underground Railroad. It also explores the possible role of the Burkle Estate in that secret escape network. The museum teaches about slavery, the slave trade, and the everyday lives of enslaved people in the wider Memphis area. It is an important part of Memphis's civil rights history.
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