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 historic house located at 826 North Second Street in Memphis, Tennessee. It is also known as Slavehaven. Many people believe the Burkle Estate 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 network of safe houses and routes. These routes helped enslaved African Americans escape from the Southern states. They traveled to free states in the North or to Canada. People who helped were called "conductors." The safe houses were known as "stations" or "way stations."
The Burkle Estate's Role
Many believe the Burkle Estate served as a way station on the Underground Railroad. Jacob Burkle, the owner, was publicly known as a livestock trader and a baker. However, some people think he secretly acted as a "conductor" for the Underground Railroad.
It is believed that his home was the last stop in Memphis for many escaping slaves. These stops were sometimes connected by secret tunnels. The Burkle Estate has a small cellar. This cellar might have been used to hide people seeking freedom. From there, they could get on boats. These boats would take them up the river to other safe places in free states, especially north of the Ohio River.
The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
The Burkle Estate opened as a museum in 1997. Today, visitors can take tours of the house. It is a one-story, white house made of clapboard. Inside, the house is decorated with furniture and items from the 1800s. These items help show what life was like back then.
The museum teaches about the history of the Underground Railroad. It also explores the possible role the Burkle Estate played in this secret escape network. The museum shares important information about slavery, the slave trade, and the daily lives of enslaved people in the Memphis area. It is an important part of Memphis's civil rights history.
See Also
