Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum

01/25/2025

The Washington NC Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is small yet mighty with amazing history. And while we are not as large as these museums listed in this article, we've got great stories to tell. February we'll be showcasing stories of the amazing African American women right here in Washington, some long before the Civil War.

These Black women made historic and civic contributions to the U.S.

01/17/2025

"CODE SWITCHING (DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING)"
We're on the road again! This time to share our new presentation "Code Switching (Do you see What I'm Saying?" Enslaved people sent freedom seeking messages like holding a rutabaga in the air. Someone could see the rutabaga and have no idea what message was being conveyed. But if a freedom seeker was in on the plan, they knew exactly what the rutabaga signified.
Please join us and learn more about cleverly disguised freedom seeking messages.

SAVE THE DATE: February 22, 2025.
The African American Heritage Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina and the City of Northwest;
Presents: Lisa Jones and The Underground Railroad Waterfront Museum of Washington, North Carolina
This is an educational piece and a learning experience you'll want to have around the table with your children. So bring the whole family. Everyone is invited!!!
(DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING)

11/15/2024

Did you know the Washington NC Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is a NC African American Heritage Site listed under the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Site with other sites across the state?

09/15/2024

CELEBRACION MES NACIONAL DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA
CELEBRATING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
FELIZ MES DE LAS HERENCIA HISPANA
HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
DE LA WASHINGTON WATERFRONT FERROCARRIL SUUBTERRANEO MUSEO
FROM THE WASHINGTON WATERFRONT UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM

***Check out our Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit at the Brown Library***

08/03/2024

Today's history tour aboard the Schooner Jeanie B.
Telling the story of how enslaved women escaped on sailing ships on the Underground Railroad here in Washington. The dress represented a dress made of quilt scraps with letters of passage for ship captains sewed into the seams to be undetectable until it was time to give them to the ship's crew. The skirt had two very long slips under the dress, one with a 'gold thread' sewed in the seam as a code. I had a head scarf on my head but I took it off to show how enslaved women hid money rolled up in paper with a message on it in their hair. We had an awesome time. Many, many thanks and blessings to Captain Paul of the Schooner Jeanie B and to all our guests ( some who came from Greenville, New Bern, Cary NC and Virginia, Maryland, and NY to join us on the tour.) New history river tours will be announced later in the summer.

06/30/2024

To God Be The greatest Glory.

Honored to support Leesa & Milt Jones as they received an achievement award from Rev. Bradley Cannon during his Sing For The King live recording at the Turnage Theater. We are so blessed to have the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum!

06/20/2024

The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum will be closed Friday, June 21st as we'll be sharing some of Washington's' amazing history with our friends at the Hertford County Library.

06/19/2024

HAPPY JUNETEENTH from the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum!
Today is a celebration of freedom. Juneteenth commemorates the enduring struggle for emancipation and abolition of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when General Order No. 3 was delivered by Union troops in Galveston, Texas, reaffirming the decree of freedom for African Americans who had remained enslaved during the final years of the Civil War despite the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. The celebration symbolizes the month and day—June 19—when the message of freedom reached Galveston. Juneteenth is when slavery in America was finally abolished!

06/07/2024

***This Program is now at capacity. We will attempt to offer this experience again in the future due to its popularity! Thanks for the interest!***

The NC Estuarium is excited to announce a special program day on our River Roving pontoon boat in conjunction with the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, next Saturday, June 15th, in recognition of Juneteenth and Washington’s role in the Underground Railroad. Leesa Jones will lead four 45 minute presentations on our pontoon boat. Trips begin at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Call in advance (252-948-0000) to sign up, it is first come first serve and each trip can only take 10 people.

05/23/2024

Great news! We're partnering with Tar Pamlico Trolley to provide you with a new way to experience the African American History Tours of Washington. You'll be able to ride, relax and enjoy Washington's history and tour historic sites. More details coming soon! Check out Tar Pamlico Trolley, an awesome, uniquely different way to enjoy Washington!

05/14/2024

Celebrate Juneteenth with us this summer and embark on a journey of discovery through the history of the Underground Railroad. Our program features Leesa Jones, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, and includes moving singing, dancing, and exhibits that will leave you feeling empowered and inspired. Suitable for adults and older teens, this program is made possible thanks to the NC African American Heritage Commission.
Friday / June 21, 2024 / 11:00 am

NC African American Heritage Commission
Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum

02/27/2024

02/02/2024

The Africa To Carolina Exhibit at the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is here to kick off our Black History Month celebration! The Exhibit chronicles the transatlantic slave trade from West African to eastern North Carolina. The exhibit will be at the museum until February 9th. The Africa To Carolina Project is an initiative of the North Carolina African American Commission.
The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission’s Africa to Carolina initiative serves to identify, acknowledge, and mark each site in the state where enslaved Africans disembarked directly from the African Continent. The AAHC worked closely with the NC Office of Archives and History, the Middle Passage Ceremonies, and Port Marker Project to identify disembarkment sites in North Carolina. For more information, see AAHC’s website at https://aahc.nc.gov/programs/africa-carolina.

01/31/2024

The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum is kicking off Black History Month at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center. Please come join us!

Come join us on Friday, February 2nd at 1:00pm for a special Black History Presentation led by Mrs. Leesa Jones, owner of the Underground Railroad Museum here in Washington. Check out the flyer below for more details. Please RSVP for this event.

08/05/2023