Levi Coffin State Historic Site

Levi Coffin State Historic Site
Discover the Levi Coffin Home in Fountain City, Indiana, one of the most historically significant Underground Railroad sites in the United States and a must-see destination for Hoosiers interested in Indiana history, abolitionism, and African American heritage. Known as the “Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad,” this Quaker home was where Levi Coffin, a leading abolitionist, helped an estimated 2,000 enslaved people escape to freedom despite threats and intense opposition. Now a designated Indiana State Historic Site operated by the Indiana State Museum, the beautifully restored eight-room home features original furnishings and powerful stories that bring the fight against slavery to life. Located in Wayne County, the Levi Coffin State Historic Site stands among the top historic landmarks in the nation and offers visitors a meaningful connection to Indiana’s pivotal role in the Underground Railroad and the broader struggle for freedom.

From the Book
East Central Indiana Day Trips

Transcript:

Greetings, today’s destination is the Levi Coffin Home in Fountain City, Indiana.

Located in Fountain City, Indiana, the Levi Coffin Home was the site of an important stop on the Underground Railroad system that ferreted escaped slaves out of the country and on to Canada.

Levi Coffin (October 28, 1798 September 16, 1877)
The only son of Quakers Prudence and Levi Coffin Sr, Levi had six sisters. The family lived on a farm near New Garden, North Carolina. Coffin became opposed to slavery at an early age and by the time he reached fifteen years old he began helping slaves escape their owners. Many other Quaker families in North Carolina participated in this activity, also. For a short time Levi operated a school for slaves, teaching them to read the bible. The authorities soon made him stop this activity. The slave owners of North Carolina became enraged at the Quakers and began persecuting them, finally driving them from the state. Many moved to Indiana and Levi’s family was among them. Levi made an exploratory trip to Indiana in 1822 and determined that he wanted to move there. He and Catherine White married in 1824 and moved to Indiana in 1826 with their new born son Jesse.
In Indiana
The family settled in Newport, Indiana. the city has since changed its name to Fountain City. Levi purchased a plot of ground to farm and a year after that opened a store. Levi discovered that the town was on the route of the Underground Railroad and began assisting slaves escape, using his home to shelter and hide them. His business at first suffered, because many boycotted it because of his activities, but soon this passed and he began to prosper. he was able to make an investment in a local bank and as a result, became a director. His newfound prosperity enabled him to fund his Underground Railroad activities. Historians estimate he helped over 2000 escaped slaves escape to freedom. Pressure to halt his activities continued and he received death threats. In spite of the pressure, he continued to hide and shelter runaway slaves.
Ohio
In 1847 Levi moved to Cincinnati to manage the Western Free Produce Association. This was a business that would only deal with merchandise not associated with the slave trade. Supply problems plagued this business and it struggled for years. He had rented his Newport business out and it continued to serve runaway slaves. Meanwhile, he used his connections to aid escaping slaves in the Cincinnati area. When the Civil War ended he raised money for the Western Freedman’s Aid Society, an organization that sought to help the former slaves adjust to freedom. After the Fifteenth Amendment passed he retired to his Avondale, Ohio home where he passed away in 1877.
The State of Indiana purchased the home in 1967. After completing the restoration work, the home was opened to the public. The Indiana State Museum operates the Levi Coffin Home through the Levi Coffin House Association as a State Historic Site. Visitors may tour the eight room home, designated as one of the top twenty-five historic sites in the United States. The home contains much of the original furnishings from the Coffins and the Newport Community.
For more information about the Levi Coffin Home, visit:
Levi Coffin State Historic Site
113 U.S. 27 North
Fountain City, IN 47341
Phone: 765-847-2432
manager@levicoffin.org
http://www.indianamuseum.org/explore/levi-coffin-house
Levi Coffin State Historic Site is open:
June through September at selected hours.
Closed Sundays and Mondays. The site is closed November through May. Group tours may be scheduled during the off-season based on availability. Contact the site for more information.

The episode is based upon my book, East Central Indiana Day Trips , available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the fifth book in the 9 volume Road Trip Indiana Series. The books include all the historical markers, as of 2022, in Indiana with the text and back story. The books also include a nearly complete listing of virtually every tourism destination in the state. The destinations include parks, museums, drive in theaters, bowling alleys, wineries and much, much more. Much of the book is also based on one of my other books, A Short History of Basketball – Indiana Edition. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it. If you like what I am doing, please purchase a book, as it helps fund my work.
You can find my books locally at the at the Romweber Marketplace in downtown Batesville, Indiana.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.