Kfai's Minneculture

When freedom seekers stepped off the steamboat in St. Paul, local people of color met them at the landing. Underground Railroad agents worked as barbers, musicians, laundresses, steamboat stewards and cooks. Some of these residents had never been enslaved and grew up in eastern cities. Others fled the South to settle in Minnesota — a territory that was supposed to be free, yet tolerated slavery within its borders. Local sheriffs and Southern enslavers spent weeks offering bribes to find people sheltered in places like the church belfry, the ice cream saloon, a horse stable hayloft and the home of William and Adeline Taylor. In the season 9 finale of MinneCulture, historians share the little-known story of St. Paul’s Underground Railroad. This episode was written and produced by Michelle Bruch. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Citations:‘Reminiscences of the Underground Railway,’ St.