While The Underground Railroad wasn’t an actual train, its safe houses known as “stations” were very real. Located in Indiana at the crossings of 3 popular escape routes was the “Grand Central Station” safe house, a hub for the Underground Railroad.
Station leaders proactively planned how to keep runaways safe. The layout of “Grand Central” shows it was designed with our liberation in mind.
Just like real train stations, “Grand Central” had numerous entrances for runaways to be smuggled in or out. In the attic there was a trap door, hiding a crawl space that could hide roughly 14 people.
The basement had a kitchen and well, meant for stealthily preparing food for runaways arriving at night. The barn stored a carriage with a hidden compartment, concealing runaways during their journeys between safe houses.
“Grand Central” was designed to ensure our people’s survival. As we build Black liberated futures we should design environments that allow us to not only survive, but thrive.
What is needed for us to build accessible spaces that center our joy, ease, love, and community care? Centuries before colonization and enslavement, our ancestors were designing mind blowing structures and thriving societies.
Let’s make designing liberation irresistible, encouraging everyone in our communities to show up with tools they have. We are the blueprint.