Description: This 8 by 10-inch (20.25 by 21.25 cm) photograph shows the "Freedom Stairway," the 100 steps leading down from the Rankin House toward the Ohio River. The John Rankin House in Ripley was a station on the Underground Railroad. It is unlikely that the stairs in this photograph pre-date the early 1900s, but until documentation is found supporting the existence of the stairs in the pre-Civil War years, they can still serve as a reminder of the perilous journey of the fugitive slave and the welcome to be found at the top of the hill. John Rankin (1793-1886) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who devoted much of his life to the antislavery movement. He is credited with helping 2,000 slaves escape to freedom. It has been said that a light was placed in the window of the house to indicate that it was safe for slaves to approach. The character of Eliza in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was reportedly inspired by a story of a woman who crossed the partially-frozen Ohio River with a baby in her arms, making it safely to Rankin's house. The John Rankin House is now a museum, part of the Ohio History Connection's statewide network of historic sites. The current steps were put in place in the 1990s. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1277_781125_121
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Civil Liberties; Underground Railroad; Rankin House; Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows the "Freedom Stairway," the 100 steps leading down from the Rankin House toward the Ohio River. The John Rankin House in Ripley was a station on the Underground Railroad. It is unlikely that the stairs in this photograph pre-date the early 1900s, but until documentation is found supporting the existence of the stairs in the pre-Civil War years, they can still serve as a reminder of the perilous journey of the fugitive slave and the welcome to be found at the top of the hill. John Rankin (1793-1886) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who devoted much of his life to the antislavery movement. He is credited with helping 2,000 slaves escape to freedom. It has been said that a light was placed in the window of his house to indicate when it was safe for slaves to approach. The character of Eliza in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was reportedly inspired by a story of a woman who crossed the partially-frozen Ohio River with a baby in her arms, making it safely to Rankin's house. The John Rankin House is now a museum, part of the Ohio History Connection's statewide network of historic sites. The current steps were put in place in the 1990s. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01171
Subjects: Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Underground Railroad--Ohio; Civil Liberties; Rankin House; Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the restored John Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. John Rankin (1793-1886) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who devoted much of his life to the antislavery movement. He is credited with helping 2,000 slaves escape to freedom. It has been said that a light was placed in the window of his house to indicate when it was safe for slaves to approach. The character of Eliza in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was reportedly inspired by a story of a woman who crossed the partially-frozen Ohio River with a baby in her arms, making it safely to Rankin's house. The John Rankin House is now a museum, part of the Ohio History Connection's statewide network of historic sites. The current steps were put in place in the 1990s. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1591_01
Subjects: Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Underground Railroad--Ohio; Civil Liberties; Rankin House; Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: The Rankin house was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House was a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. From his home on top of Liberty Hill, Rankin would signal to fugitive slaves when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. After crossing the river from Kentucky, those seeking freedom then climbed 100 wooden steps to the house, where they were given shelter and food before continuing their journey to Canada. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 2012, and is part of the Ohio History Connection's statewide network of historic sites. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06588
Subjects: Rankin, John, 1793-1886; Rankin House; Underground Railroad--Ohio
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph depicts Uncle "Billy" Marshall, a conductor for the Underground Railroad, standing outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was run by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up to the American Civil War, Rankin dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, Rankin moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_004
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Rankin House; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio)
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph depicts Linsay Jackson, an Underground Railroad operator, sitting outside of the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio. The house was run by John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. Up to the American Civil War, Rankin dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. After spending several years as a minister and abolitionist in Kentucky, Rankin moved to Ripley to continue his anti-slavery work. He most likely moved into this home in 1825, where he continued to serve as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Rankin House stood on a 300-foot-high hill, known as "Liberty Hill," which overlooked the Ohio River. Rankin would signal fugitive slaves in Kentucky with a lantern or candle, letting them know when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. To access Rankin's home on top of Liberty Hill, those seeking their freedom had to climb 100 wooden steps. Rankin would provide the former slaves with sanctuary, keeping them hidden until it was safe for them to travel further north. John Rankin is believed to have provided shelter and food to as many as 2,000 fugitive slaves during his career with the Underground Railroad; according to several accounts, none of those whom Rankin helped were ever returned to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized Rankin's efforts to help African Americans in her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Rankin's home was the first stop in Ohio for Eliza, one of the book's main characters, as she sought freedom in the North. Today, the Rankin house is home to a museum operated by the Ohio History Connection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC652_005
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Rankin House; Historic houses; Brown County (Ohio); Antislavery movements--Ohio--History--19th century
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph of John Rankin and his wife Jane (identified in some later records as Jean) Lowry Rankin was taken on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. John Rankin (1793-1886) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who devoted much of his life to the antislavery movement. His house in Ripley, Ohio, was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and Rankin, along with his family and neighbors, is credited with helping 2,000 fugitive slaves escape to freedom. The house is situated at the top of a hill overlooking the Ohio River. Escaping slaves climbed the 100-step "Freedom Stairway" from the river to reach the house, which has several secret rooms in which slaves were hidden. A light was placed in the window of the house to indicaten when it was safe for slaves to approach. The John Rankin House is now a museum, part of the Ohio History Connection's statewide network of historic sites. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1277_781136_122
Subjects: Rankin, John, 1793-1886; Abolitionists -- Ohio; Civil Liberties; Underground Railroad; Religion in Ohio; Rankin House
Places: Ripley (Ohio); Brown County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the former home and grounds of John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister who assisted around 2,000 runaway slaves to find freedom. From his home on top of Liberty Hill, he would signal to runaway slaves when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. They then climbed 100 wooden steps to the house, where he would give them shelter and food before they continued their journey to Canada. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 2012. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Series6560AV_B07F13_001_001
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Rankin House; Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio)
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the former home and grounds of John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister who assisted around 2,000 runaway slaves to find freedom. From his home on top of Liberty Hill, he would signal to runaway slaves when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. They then climbed 100 wooden steps to the house, where he would give them shelter and food before they continued their journey to Canada. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 2012. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Series6560AV_B07F13_002_001
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Rankin House; Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio)
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the former home and grounds of John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister who assisted around 2,000 runaway slaves to find freedom. From his home on top of Liberty Hill, he would signal to runaway slaves when it was safe to cross the Ohio River. They then climbed 100 wooden steps to the house, where he would give them shelter and food before they continued their journey to Canada. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 9, 2012. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Series6560AV_B07F13_003_001
Subjects: Underground Railroad; Ohio History--Slavery, Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights; Rankin House; Zoar (Tuscarawas County, Ohio)
Places: Zoar (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)