Mayhew Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Mayhew Cabin
|
|
Front (south) of Mayhew Cabin.
|
|
 Location in Nebraska
|
|
| Location | 2012 4th Corso, Nebraska City, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000013 |
| Added to NRHP | February 11, 2011 |
The Mayhew Cabin in Nebraska City, Nebraska, is a very special place. It is the only site in Nebraska officially recognized as part of the Underground Railroad by the National Park Service. This means it was a secret stop where enslaved people could find help and safety on their journey to freedom. It is also known as John Brown's Cave.
Contents
The Mayhew Cabin: A Stop on the Underground Railroad
A Home with a Secret Past
The Mayhew Cabin was built in 1855 by Allen and Barbara Mayhew. They had moved to Nebraska in 1854. Barbara's younger brother, John Henry Kagi, came to live with them in 1855. Kagi was a lawyer who strongly believed that slavery was wrong.
John Brown's Fight for Freedom
By 1856, John Kagi had moved to Kansas Territory. There, he became a close friend and helper of John Brown. Brown was a famous abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery. Kagi became Brown's most trusted advisor.
John Brown believed that slavery would not end without a fight. He had a big plan to help enslaved people gain their freedom. Before this plan, Brown and his followers were involved in anti-slavery efforts in "Bleeding Kansas." This was a time when people fought over whether Kansas would allow slavery.
A Daring Escape to Canada
In December 1858, John Brown, Kagi, and their group helped a man named Jim Daniels and his family escape slavery in Vernon County, Missouri. They also helped other enslaved families find freedom. In total, eleven enslaved people joined them.
For weeks, these escaping families were hidden and helped in different places in northeast Kansas. Mrs. Daniels even gave birth to a son during this journey, and he was named after John Brown.
In early 1859, the group, now twelve people, traveled north through Nebraska. In February 1859, they found safety at Barbara Mayhew's cabin. Even though an armed group tried to stop them, they safely crossed into Iowa. Finally, on March 12, 1859, they reached freedom in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The Cabin's Journey Through Time
The Mayhew Cabin was built using strong cottonwood trees. It was the Mayhew family's home until 1864. Over the years, the cabin was sold many times.
In 1937, the owner, Edward Bartling, moved the cabin to save it from a highway project. During this move, the cabin was fixed up, showing its original 1850s look. Bartling wanted to open the cabin to the public as a tourist spot. He even built a cave under the cabin. This cave had tunnels and sleeping areas, which helped tell the story of the Mayhew family's connection to the Underground Railroad.
The cabin was open to visitors from 1938 to 2002 as the "John Brown's Cave" attraction. Because of its important history, the Mayhew Cabin was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 11, 2010.
Bringing History Back to Life
In 2005, the Mayhew Cabin was restored again. A non-profit group now runs the site. In 2010, they opened a new museum space next to the cabin.
The foundation also takes care of the historic Mt. Zion AME Church on the site. This church was one of the first Black congregations established west of the Missouri River.
See also
