The Underground Railroad

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The Underground Railroad

• UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

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The Underground Railroad Quilts

• secrets to a successful escape

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Use of Quilts

• slaves used a quilt code to navigate the
  Underground Railroad
• quilts with patterns contained secret messages
  that helped direct slaves to freedom

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How Did The Quilts Work?

• a plantation seamstress would sew a sampler quilt
  containing the ten quilt patterns
• slaves would use the sampler to memorize the code
• the seamstress sewed ten quilts, each composed of
  one of the code's patterns, and hung the quilts
  in full view one at a time, allowing the slaves
  to remember their meanings

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How Did The Quilts Work?

• Quilts

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A Sampler Quilt
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What Were the Patterns?
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Monkey Wrench

• the monkey wrench told slaves to prepare the
  tools they would need for the long journey,
  including mental and spiritual tools

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Wagon Wheel Load

• the wagon wheel load told slaves to board the
  wagon to begin the escape

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Bears Paw

• bears paw told slaves to take a mountain trail,
  out of view
• following the bear tracks would lead you to water
  and food

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Crossroads

• crossroads referred to Cleveland, Ohio
• this destination offered several routes to
  freedom
• it also signified a point where a persons life
  would change

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Log Cabin

• log cabin was a secret symbol that could be drawn
  on the ground
• it meant that a person was safe to talk to
• it also advised seeking shelter

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Shoofly

• shoofly identified a friendly guide who is nearby
  and can help

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Bowtie

• the bowtie told slaves that it was necessary to
  travel in disguise
• or to change from the clothing of a slave to
  those of a person of higher status

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Flying Geese

• flying geese meant to follow the direction of the
  flying geese as they migrated north in the spring
• most slaves escaped during the spring along the
  way, the flying geese could be used as a guide to
  find water, food and places to rest

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Drunkard's Path

• drunkards path told slaves to avoid walking in a
  straight line
• a zig-zag path helped avoid pursuers in the area

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Star

• the star meant to follow the North Star
• it was a reference to the Big Dipper constellation

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More Quilts
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More Quilts II
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More Quilts III
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NowYOU tell me what these mean!