Jockey Statues and the Underground Railroad A Hidden History

Understanding the History and Symbolism Behind Underground Railroad Memorials

Underground railroad statue monuments across North America tell powerful stories of courage, resistance, and the journey to freedom. These memorials honor the thousands of enslaved people who risked everything to escape bondage, as well as the abolitionists who helped them along the way.

Key Underground Railroad Statues and Monuments:

You may have heard stories about lawn jockeys with colored ribbons serving as secret signals for the Underground Railroad. This popular legend has been debunked by historians who found no primary evidence to support these claims. The real monuments honoring freedom seekers tell a far more compelling story.

Between the 1830s and 1861, thousands of enslaved people courageously escaped northward through a secret network of routes and safe houses. By 1861, some 30,000 freedom-seekers had reached what is now Ontario, Canada. Detroit served as one of the largest terminals of the Underground Railroad, with the code name “Midnight,” where the Detroit River represented the final crossing to freedom.

Today’s monuments stand as tangible connections to this history. They serve as educational tools and points of reflection, helping us remember the struggle, resilience, and hope that defined this crucial period in North American history.

The Legend of the Lawn Jockey: Fact or Folklore?

You’ve probably heard the story. Those small lawn jockey statues—the ones holding lanterns or hitching rings—supposedly served as secret signals for people escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad. According to the legend, a green ribbon tied to the statue meant safety, while a red ribbon warned of danger. Some versions claim the lantern itself was the signal, or that the direction the statue faced pointed toward safe houses.

It’s an incredibly appealing story, isn’t it? The idea of coded messages hidden in plain sight adds even more intrigue to an already heroic chapter of history. We completely understand why this tale has captured so many imaginations over the years.

But here’s the truth: historians have found no evidence that lawn jockeys were ever used as Underground Railroad signals.

When researchers began digging into the archives—searching through runaway slave narratives, abolitionist memoirs, and newspaper accounts from that era—they came up empty. Not a single contemporary document mentions lawn jockeys playing any role in helping freedom seekers. The historical analysis revealed a complete lack of primary evidence supporting this popular myth.

Scholars who specialize in the Underground Railroad have been debunking this theory for years. Don’t get us wrong—the methods used by conductors and freedom seekers were absolutely ingenious. They relied on coded songs, subtle gestures, whispered passwords, and trusted networks of brave individuals. But lawn jockeys simply weren’t part of that system.

This legend shares similarities with other pieces of folklore, like the theory about Freedom Quilts serving as coded maps. While both stories are fascinating, they remain folklore rather than documented history. The real signals were far more human and immediate—a quiet word at the right moment, a trusted face in the darkness, the profound courage of people risking everything for freedom.

The Origins of the “Jocko” Story

So where did this whole lawn jockey legend come from?

The story of Jocko Graves is often cited as the origin. According to this tale, Jocko was a young African American stable boy who served General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. When Washington prepared to cross the Delaware River, Jocko supposedly stayed behind to hold the horses and keep a lantern burning. Tragically, he froze to death that night, still faithfully at his post. Moved by this sacrifice, Washington allegedly commissioned a statue in his honor—the first lawn jockey.

It’s a touching story. But like the Underground Railroad connection, historians have found no factual basis for it. The Jocko Graves tale appears to be what scholars call an alternative history—a myth created much later, possibly to give these statues a more noble backstory.

The reality is less romantic but important to understand. Lawn jockeys likely originated as decorative lawn ornaments in the 19th century, often depicting problematic racial caricatures. Over time, the shift from folklore to accepted myth happened gradually. The uncomfortable origins of these figures got rewritten into a narrative of resistance and heroism—a story people wanted to believe.

This change shows us how powerful storytelling can be, and how easily appealing legends can overshadow the actual documented history. When you visit real underground railroad statue monuments like Detroit’s Gateway to Freedom, you’re connecting with authentic, verified history—the kind backed by research, primary sources, and the documented experiences of the people who lived it.

From Myth to Monument: The Real Underground Railroad Statue Legacy

The lawn jockey myth makes for an intriguing story, but when we turn to the authentic underground railroad statue monuments standing across North America, we encounter something far more powerful. These memorials aren’t based on folklore or wishful thinking – they’re deliberate, carefully crafted tributes to one of history’s most remarkable chapters. They honor real people who risked everything, and they stand as permanent reminders of courage that changed the course of a nation.

The Underground Railroad wasn’t an actual railroad with tracks and trains. It was something both simpler and more extraordinary – a secret network of courage. Imagine a web of safe houses, hidden routes, and brave individuals stretching across the country, all working toward one goal: freedom. This network included both Black and white abolitionists who believed that human bondage was morally wrong and were willing to break the law to prove it.

The people who guided freedom seekers were called “conductors.” Those who provided safe houses, warm meals, and places to hide were “station masters.” And the brave souls making the journey? They were simply called “passengers,” though there was nothing simple about what they endured. Every mile north meant danger. Getting caught could mean brutal punishment, being sold further south, or death. Yet thousands made this perilous journey anyway, driven by an unshakeable desire for liberty.

For many, the journey ended in Canada. The British Empire had abolished slavery throughout its territories in 1834, making Canada a true haven. By 1861, approximately 30,000 freedom-seekers had crossed into what is now Ontario, building new lives and communities. These weren’t just refugees – they became teachers, farmers, business owners, and vital members of Canadian society. The Canadian government recognized this history’s importance in 1925 when it officially designated the Underground Railroad as a national historic event.

This is history that deserves more than textbooks. It demands monuments that we can stand before, touch, and remember. That’s why communities across North America have created lasting tributes to this network of courage.

Why We Build Monuments to the Past

There’s something profound about standing in front of a statue. Unlike reading a paragraph in a history book, a monument occupies real space in our world. You can walk around it, see how light plays across its surfaces, notice the expressions on sculpted faces. These physical connections matter deeply.

Public art serves as an outdoor classroom, one that’s open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. An underground railroad statue doesn’t just tell you that people escaped slavery – it shows you their determination, their fear, their hope. You see families huddled together, conductors pointing the way north, the moment of arrival in freedom. These aren’t abstract concepts anymore. They’re people, frozen in bronze or stone, whose stories become part of your own experience.

Monuments also create gathering places for remembrance and reflection. They give us physical locations where we can honor the past, teach our children, and contemplate how far we’ve come – and how far we still need to go. When you visit these memorials, you’re joining a conversation that spans generations. You’re connecting with the values and struggles of people who lived more than 150 years ago, and you’re carrying their legacy forward.

For those of us in Detroit, these connections feel especially personal. Our city played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, and our monuments reflect that pride and responsibility. If you’re planning to explore this rich history during your stay, you’ll find that Detroit offers numerous opportunities to connect with this heritage. Learn more about Detroit’s Black History and the celebrations that keep these stories alive today.

The underground railroad statue memorials we’ll explore in the following sections do more than commemorate the past. They inspire us to remember that ordinary people, facing extraordinary circumstances, can change the world. They remind us that the fight for justice and human dignity is never finished. And they challenge us to ask: what would we have done? What will we do now?

Detroit’s Gateway to Freedom: An International Memorial

Detroit holds a particularly special place in the story of the Underground Railroad. For thousands of people fleeing slavery, this city represented the final, and often most frightening, obstacle before reaching safety. The code name for Detroit on the Underground Railroad was “Midnight,” a fitting name for a city where many arrived under cover of darkness, preparing to make one last desperate crossing. The Detroit River – often called “the River Jordan” by those seeking freedom – stood as both the ultimate barrier and the gateway to a new life.

To honor this profound connection, an extraordinary international memorial was created that bridges the United States and Canada. This memorial is unique because it exists in two parts: one in Detroit, Michigan, and its companion just across the river in Windsor, Ontario. Renowned sculptor Ed Dwight designed both pieces to powerfully symbolize the journey from enslavement to freedom, and the crucial role both nations played in this historic movement.

Detroit’s International Underground Railroad Statue

The Detroit side of this international tribute is the Gateway to Freedom Monument, dedicated on October 20, 2001. You’ll find it at Hart Plaza on Detroit’s Riverfront, where it stands as a powerful reminder of those who risked everything for liberty. The central underground railroad statue depicts eight people escaping slavery, their faces showing a powerful mix of fear, determination, and hope.

Leading them is a conductor modeled after George DeBaptiste, a real abolitionist who became one of Detroit’s most important Underground Railroad figures. A free man from Virginia, DeBaptiste moved to Detroit in 1846 and dedicated himself to helping others reach freedom. In the sculpture, he points toward Canada, symbolizing the promise of liberty just across the water.

The monument is rich with meaningful details. Two impressive gateway pillars, about fifteen feet tall, stand on either side of the sculptural group. They’re topped with candles representing the “Flame of Freedom.” The base features engravings of lanterns in window sills, echoing the subtle signals that might have guided freedom seekers to safe houses.

The gateway pillars themselves tell a powerful story. The western pillar shows an 1833 Charleston “slave tag,” while the eastern pillar displays a Charleston “free tag” from the 1780s, complete with a Phrygian cap – a symbol of liberty from the French Revolution. These tags powerfully illustrate the precarious state of both enslaved and free Black individuals during that era. The monument also references the folklore of “Freedom Quilts,” acknowledging the enduring stories about coded maps and guideposts, even as historians continue to debate their actual use. For more details about this significant landmark, you can explore More about the Gateway to Freedom.

Windsor’s Tower of Freedom

Across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario, stands the companion sculpture, the Tower of Freedom. Also created by Ed Dwight and dedicated around the same time as Detroit’s monument, this piece captures the overwhelming emotion of finally reaching freedom. It depicts four life-size bronze figures, their faces expressing profound relief, gratitude, and wonder. A striking twenty-two-foot granite monolith rises above them from a ten-by-ten-foot base.

One of the most touching details is a young girl holding a rag doll and looking back across the river toward the United States. This figure symbolizes the complex emotional journey of those who reached Canada. Yes, they had gained their freedom – but they’d also left behind family, friends, and everything familiar. Some hoped to return one day after slavery ended. It’s a powerful reminder that freedom, while precious beyond measure, came with its own emotional weight.

The monument also includes a Canadian federal historic plaque and honors local figures who were significant to the Underground Railroad, connecting the sculpture to the region’s specific history. To learn more about the broader story of Canada’s vital role as a haven for freedom seekers, we encourage you to Learn about Canada’s role.

Other Prominent Monuments Along the Path to Freedom

Beyond the international memorial spanning Detroit and Windsor, numerous other underground railroad statue monuments dot the landscape across the United States and Canada. Each one tells its own story, honoring key figures, marking significant locations, and revealing the incredible breadth of this secret network.

Michigan’s Other Powerful Underground Railroad Statue

Michigan was a crucial corridor for the Underground Railroad, a legacy honored by another significant memorial in Battle Creek. The Memorial to the Underground Railroad, dedicated on October 24, 1993, is also the work of sculptor Ed Dwight. This large sculpture pays tribute to Erastus and Sarah Hussey, local abolitionists who were dedicated conductors. The memorial also features Harriet Tubman leading a family from slavery, highlighting her connection to Michigan’s abolitionist network.

The Freedom Crossing Monument in New York

In Lewiston, New York, the Freedom Crossing Monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River, another critical crossing point. Dedicated on October 14, 2009, this underground railroad statue depicts Josiah Tryon, Lewiston’s volunteer “station master,” guiding escapees across the treacherous river. The community-funded project maintains historical accuracy; an initial plan to include Harriet Tubman was dropped due to a lack of proof she operated in Lewiston. The monument includes hidden details like the GPS coordinates of Tryon’s gravesite. For more on historical preservation efforts, you can explore More about the National Park Service.

Honoring Harriet Tubman in Maryland

In Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument honors the iconic conductor in her home state. Designated a national monument on March 25, 2013, it preserves her legacy with the same status as a national park. The Conservation Fund was crucial in its creation, donating a 480-acre property that includes the former home site of Jacob Jackson, a free Black man who aided Tubman. The monument covers areas significant to Tubman’s early life and her work as a conductor. You can explore this history via the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

The Lorain Underground Station 100 Monument in Ohio

Ohio’s Lake Erie ports were crucial final stops on the Underground Railroad. The Lorain Underground Station 100 Monument in Lorain, Ohio (c. 2006), commemorates this history. The sculpture shows a family of three against a map of Ohio. Its name signifies its role as one of the last stops before Canada, at the mouth of the Black River. Freedom seekers were hidden in wagons by conductors like Robbins Burrell and then smuggled onto schooners to cross Lake Erie. The monument captures the danger and hope of this final leg of the journey.

Frequently Asked Questions about Underground Railroad Statues

People often reach out to us with thoughtful questions about these monuments, especially when they’re planning to visit Detroit and want to understand the history more deeply. We love sharing these stories, so here are some of the questions we hear most often:

What is the most famous Underground Railroad statue?

When people ask about the most famous underground railroad statue, the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial consistently rises to the top. This remarkable monument actually exists in two parts – one in Detroit, Michigan, and its companion piece, the Tower of Freedom, across the river in Windsor, Ontario. Both were created by sculptor Ed Dwight and dedicated in 2001.

What makes this memorial so special is its international scope. It doesn’t just commemorate a moment in history; it tells the complete story of the journey from enslavement to freedom. The Detroit side shows the desperate crossing, with conductor George DeBaptiste pointing the way to Canada. The Windsor side captures that overwhelming moment of arrival, when freedom finally became real. Together, they symbolize the profound connection between the United States and Canada in this shared history, making them not just monuments, but a bridge between two nations.

Why was Detroit so important to the Underground Railroad?

Detroit’s role in the Underground Railroad was absolutely crucial, and it all came down to geography and community. The city sits right across the Detroit River from Canada, where slavery had been abolished in 1834. For freedom seekers, that river represented the final barrier between bondage and liberty – so close you could almost touch it, yet still terrifyingly dangerous to cross.

The city earned the code name “Midnight,” fitting for a place where so many arrived under cover of darkness, hoping to make that last desperate crossing. Detroit was one of the largest terminals of the entire Underground Railroad network. The city’s abolitionist community was remarkably diverse and active, including African Americans, white abolitionists, and Native Americans who formed groups like the Vigilant Committee of Detroit.

Key figures like George DeBaptiste, a freeman from Virginia who moved to Detroit in 1846, risked everything to help others reach freedom. They provided shelter, food, and most importantly, safe passage across that final stretch of water. This combination of location, committed activists, and Canada’s promise of freedom made Detroit an absolutely vital link in the chain to liberty.

Did Harriet Tubman operate in Michigan?

Yes, Harriet Tubman is known to have guided freedom seekers through Michigan as part of her broader work on the Underground Railroad. While she wasn’t based permanently in the state, her influence and the reach of her courageous missions extended throughout the Northern states, including Michigan. The Underground Railroad was a vast network, and Tubman’s work as a conductor connected with Michigan’s abolitionist communities.

Her depiction in the Memorial to the Underground Railroad in Battle Creek, Michigan, honors this connection. That underground railroad statue, dedicated in 1993, shows Tubman leading a family to freedom, recognizing her as a symbol of extraordinary courage and leadership. It acknowledges her vital role in the broader network of freedom seekers and abolitionists that included Michigan’s path to liberty. Her presence in Michigan’s memorial landscape reminds us that the fight for freedom knew no boundaries – it was a movement that spanned states and required the coordinated efforts of countless brave individuals working together.

Conclusion

Our journey through the history of the Underground Railroad has taken us from captivating folklore to powerful, authentic memorials that truly honor this remarkable chapter in North American history. We’ve explored how the lawn jockey myth, despite its widespread appeal, simply doesn’t hold up when historians examine the evidence. There are no primary sources, no documented accounts from the era, that support the idea of these lawn ornaments serving as secret signals for freedom seekers.

What we’ve found instead is far more meaningful: a collection of underground railroad statue monuments that stand as genuine testaments to courage and freedom. These aren’t just beautiful sculptures – they’re tangible connections to real people who risked everything for liberty, and to the abolitionists who stood with them despite the dangers.

From the international memorial spanning Detroit and Windsor, to the heartfelt tributes in Battle Creek, Lewiston, and Lorain, to the sacred grounds of the Harriet Tubman National Monument in Maryland, each of these sites tells an essential part of the story. They help us understand the incredible network of courage that stretched across states and crossed international borders. They remind us that freedom wasn’t given – it was fought for, step by perilous step, crossing by dangerous crossing.

These monuments serve as outdoor classrooms where we can reflect on the profound struggles of the past and draw inspiration for the future. They challenge us to remember that the fight for justice and equality didn’t end with the Underground Railroad – it continues in different forms today. When you stand before one of these statues, you’re not just looking at bronze and stone. You’re connecting with the resilience of thousands who refused to accept bondage, and with the moral courage of those who helped them.

If you’re planning to explore Detroit’s rich historical landscape, we’d love to help make your stay comfortable and memorable. At Detroit Furnished Rentals, we offer convenient, fully equipped apartments that put you right in the heart of the city’s cultural heritage. Whether you’re here for a week or several months, our pet-friendly furnished rentals give you a comfortable home base for finding everything Detroit has to offer.

Take the time to visit the Gateway to Freedom at Hart Plaza, and while you’re exploring, discover all of Detroit’s monuments and landmarks that tell our city’s incredible story. History isn’t just something we read about – in Detroit, it’s something you can walk through, touch, and experience firsthand.