Temple Researchers Mapped Underground Railroad Routes

A new study has traced the paths enslaved people took to reach freedom in Philadelphia between 1853 and 1861.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Geography

Temple Researchers Mapped Underground Railroad Routes

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Temple University researchers have published a comprehensive dataset detailing the origins and transit routes of people who escaped slavery via the Underground Railroad. The study utilized archived accounts to visualize how individuals reached Philadelphia from various counties in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Why it matters

Mapping these historical journeys provides new insight into the networks that facilitated escapes, while highlighting how external political pressures and shifting risks impacted freedom seekers. By digitizing these records, researchers have preserved a clearer geographic history of the movement.

Researchers analyzed over 1,000 written accounts from the archives of William Still. The study utilized a geographic information system to map travel routes, noting that escapees often traveled by steamship or schooner before finishing their journey on foot.

The players

Temple University

This is a public research university located in Philadelphia that hosts various academic programs.

William Still

He was an American abolitionist and author who served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman

She was an American abolitionist and activist who famously led dozens of enslaved people to freedom.

The details

By importing data from records originally published in 1871 into a geographic information system, the team identified key departure points and routes used by freedom seekers. The study notes that escape frequency fluctuated based on the presence of activists and ship captains, showing a marked decline following the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling.

The study analyzed escape routes used between 1853 and 1861.
The Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court decision was issued in 1857.
William Still published his records regarding escaped enslaved people in 1871.

The Big Picture

The study illustrates how the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court decision served as a turning point that restricted freedom of movement. It provides a geographic paradigm shift by moving beyond anecdotal history to map the systematic impact of federal rulings on escape attempts.

This geographic mapping allows residents and historians to better understand the specific routes and towns, such as Phoenixville, that formed the network of the Underground Railroad. It provides a tangible way for the public to visualize the historical significance of their local environment.

The takeaway

Understanding the specific transit methods used during the mid-19th century helps demystify the logistics of the Underground Railroad. These findings offer a clear look at how legal shifts once influenced the safety and success of those seeking liberty.

What happens next

The research team plans to conduct future studies evaluating the role of free Black people within the shipping industry, and Mennis intends to continue developing historical datasets centered on 19th-century roads and towns.