The North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association is raising funds to save a slice of history.
Our goal is to purchase the former property of Quaker Abolitionist and Underground Railroad Conductor Stephen Keese Smith. See flyer for more information.

Nominate a person, business, organization, or politician for the North Country Juneteenth Colors of Freedom Community Award. Submit the nomination form by May 31, 2023.

Photo Gallery

Category Albums Files
NCUGRHA Events
21 295
Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration 2022


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1 files, last one added on Sep 14, 2022
Album viewed 83 times

Solomon Northup Day 2022


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Solomon Northup Day virtual celebration at the North Star Underground Railroad Museum. Video available on YouTube.

3 files, last one added on Jul 11, 2022
Album viewed 110 times

Don & Vivian Papson Recognition


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A ceremony recognizing Don and Vivian Papson, founders of the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

6 files, last one added on Dec 07, 2021
Album viewed 220 times

Tenth Anniversary Celebration


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Photos from the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of The North Star Underground Railroad Museum.

32 files, last one added on Sep 24, 2021
Album viewed 313 times

Women's Suffrage Centennial Auto Tour


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Photos from the Champlain Valley Women's Suffrage Centennial Auto Tour. Visit
Champlain Valley Women for more information.

91 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2021
Album viewed 351 times

Juneteenth 2021


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Photos related to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum Juneteenth celebration

1 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2021
Album viewed 216 times

Herbert Estes Historical Marker Unveiling


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Herbert Estes was the superintendent of the Ausable Chasm Horse Nail Works Company. He also served in the Civil War and was captured in Salisbury, North Carolina. This was a Confederate prison that housed over 6,000 men. Conditions were horrible. Herbert Estes kept a diary while he was in the prison. Later, after his release, he read his entire diary in Congress.
Herbert's wife was Harriet. When the Ausable Chasm Horse Nail Works Company was operating, most of the employees were women. At one time, there were three buildings near the present house. These buildings were used to house employees. Herbert grew up as a Quaker and, according to his grandson, was an abolitionist. He was a member of the Baptist Church when he lived in the Keeseville area.

1 files, last one added on Oct 12, 2020
Album viewed 317 times

Deed Signing


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President Jackie Madison signed the deed to make the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association the sole owner of the Estes House. Founders, Don and Vivian Papson were present for the momentous occasion.

3 files, last one added on Jun 26, 2019
Album viewed 524 times

Computer Games Unveiling


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Three computer games invented by Keeseville Elementary School's enrichment program students for our Children's Table were unveiled on May 21, 2019.
See Press Release.

25 files, last one added on May 22, 2019
Album viewed 740 times

2017 Spirit of John Brown Freedom Awards


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On John Brown Day, the group John Brown Lives honors people who follow Brown's tradition of activism and human rights. This year two of the honorees were Don and Vivian Papson, founders of the North Star Underground Railroad Museum.

5 files, last one added on May 08, 2017
Album viewed 687 times

Created Equal Film Series 2014


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The Created Equal Film Series, February-March, 2014 (See Press Release)

2 files, last one added on Feb 03, 2014
Album viewed 1059 times

2012-2013 Annual Meeting


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NCUGRHA Eighth Annual Meeting, August 17, 2013

22 files, last one added on Sep 10, 2013
Album viewed 1550 times

21 albums on 2 page(s) 1

North Star Underground Railroad Museum
2023 Season
1 2
Clean Up Day


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Volunteers clean up the museum grounds

2 files, last one added on May 10, 2023
Album viewed 4 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2022 Season
4 14
West Point Cadets Visit


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A visit from West Point cadets and faculty members.

3 files, last one added on Sep 01, 2022
Album viewed 95 times

Notable Visitors


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Notable visitors to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum during the 2022 season.

4 files, last one added on Dec 07, 2022
Album viewed 101 times

SUNY Potsdam Visit


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A visit from SUNY Potsdam students and Clifton H. Harcum, Director of the SUNY Potsdam Center of Diversity

4 files, last one added on Mar 28, 2022
Album viewed 137 times

Fall Photos


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3 files, last one added on Dec 05, 2022
Album viewed 50 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

2021 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2021 season
1 2
Adirondack Experience Visit


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A visit from staff members and interns of The Adirondack Experience, Blue Mountain Lake

2 files, last one added on Aug 16, 2021
Album viewed 212 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2018 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2018 season
1 4
Brooklyn Bus Tour Visit


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Members of a Brooklyn bus tour visit the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

4 files, last one added on Jun 11, 2018
Album viewed 519 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2014 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2014 season
1 4
Visit from Congressman Bill Owens


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Congressman Bill Owens visits the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

4 files, last one added on Nov 12, 2014
Album viewed 967 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2013 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2013 season
2 40
Visit from Dick Gregory


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Martha Swan and the Board from John Brown Lives! suggested that Dick Gregory visit our museum while in the North Country for John Brown Day 2013 to get a sense of the work that NCUGRHA and others have done to uplift the freedom history of the region.
(Read more)

26 files, last one added on May 14, 2013
Album viewed 1675 times

Tour of Underground Railroad Sites


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Photos taken by John Ryan, Editor of the Peru Gazette, during one of the Museum's summer bus tours of Underground Railroad sites in the Peru/Keeseville area. The tour was led by Peter Slocum, NCUGRHA Board Member and 2nd Vice President.

14 files, last one added on Sep 05, 2013
Album viewed 1873 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

2012 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2012 season
3 15
Students from West Africa


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3 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1206 times

Opening Weekend


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2012 opening weekend with lecture "Who’s Under that Load of Hay?" given by Bryan Thompson, De Kalb town historian.

6 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2012
Album viewed 1179 times

Juneteenth: Dr. Washington


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Dr. Margaret Washington, professor of History and American Studies at Cornell University, unveiled the stories of four unsung women activists during a Juneteenth Celebrations at the North Star Underground Railroad Museum on Sunday, June 17.
(Read more)

6 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2012
Album viewed 1154 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

2011 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2011 season
6 36
Entrance


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6 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1338 times

Entrance Room & Gift Shop


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7 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1346 times

Exhibits


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12 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1567 times

John Thomas Story


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6 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1345 times

Lavinia Bell Story


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1 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1216 times

Onward Your Country to Save


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4 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1211 times

6 albums on 1 page(s)

Other Related Photos
4 19
Culture Talk Appreciation Awards


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Jackie Madison and LeGita M. Scott-Williams receive certificates of appreciation for serving as panelists in 2021/2022 culture talks sponsored by UVM Health Network/CVPH.

3 files, last one added on May 10, 2023
Album viewed 4 times

The Making of "Amazing Abolitionists"


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Students of Class 4A Flint Hill School create the book "Amazing Abolitionists."

5 files, last one added on May 21, 2021
Album viewed 238 times

Barn Work at Stephen Keese Smith Farm


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Work on the barn at the Stephen Keese Smith farm (Peru, NY), which is now owned by Frank Perusse.

10 files, last one added on May 10, 2019
Album viewed 438 times

Visit to Africville Museum


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Jacqueline Madison visited the (Africville
Museum
) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 2018.

1 files, last one added on May 07, 2018
Album viewed 489 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

431 files in 44 albums and 11 categories viewed 1,281,566 times

Latest Additions
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LeGita M. Scott-WilliamsMay 10, 2023
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Jackie MadisonMay 10, 2023
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Jackie Madison and LeGita M. Scott-WilliamsMay 10, 2023
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Clean Up VolunteerMay 10, 2023
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Clean Up VolunteersMay 10, 2023
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A Group of HomeschoolersDec 07, 2022
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Visitors from Texas and CaliforniaDec 07, 2022
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Fall 2022 at the MuseumDec 05, 2022