Southwestern Ontario was an open door to freedom in Canada for those Black fugitives who were able to make the journey on the Underground Railroad. Essex County is fortunate to have two museums dedicated to local Black history.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum was formerly known as the North American Black Historical Museum. It was founded as a community-based, non-profit museum by Amherstburg residents Betty and Melvin “Mac” Simpson. It was officially incorporated in 1975.
The museum celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015. The name was then changed to the Amherstburg Freedom Museum. Its goal is to preserve and present artifacts, telling the story of African-Canadians’ history and contributions. The museum shares local stories about the Underground Railroad.
Nazrey A.M.E. Church and the Taylor Log Cabin are also included in the museum complex. The church is a national historic site. The log cabin was the home of George Taylor, a formerly enslaved man and his family.
Location:
277 King Street
Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 2C7
Hours of Operation:
- Tuesday to Friday -12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday to Sunday – 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday – Closed
Contact the museum at 1-800-713-6336 for group rate discounts (10 or more people) as well as virtual and in-person educational program offerings.
Phone:
(519) 736-5433
Website:
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
Email:
curator@amherstburgfreedom.org
Facebook:
Amherstburg Freedom Museum
John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum
The John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum is located in Lakeshore as a testament to the Underground Railroad. The Railroad was significant piece of history, as people of different races and faiths worked in harmony for freedom and for justice.
Railroad terminology was used to throw off slave catchers. A conductor led fugitives to freedom. The fugitives were called passengers. The end goal was for conductors to get their passengers from one station (safehouse) to another, till they got to a terminal, which was freedom in the northern United States or Canada.
A historic plaque stands at the entrance to the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum. The plaque tells the history of a fugitive slave from North Carolina named John Freeman Walls who had built a log cabin here in 1846.
The cabin became a terminal of the Underground Railroad. It was also the original meeting place for Puce Baptist Church. The Road That Led To Somewhere is a book by Dr. Bryan Walls which tells the story of the challenges met by these black settlers.
The plaque was erected by Proverbs Heritage Organization with the assistance of Maidstone Township and the Ministry of Culture and Recreation.
Location:
859 Puce Road
Lakeshore, Ontario N8M 2X7
Hours Of Operation:
- Tuesday-Saturday (June – July- August)
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weather permitting).
- By appointment (May- October)
Phone:
(519) 727-6555
Website:
John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum
Email:
bryanugrr@aol.com
Facebook:
John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum