The National Underground Railroad Museum (NURM) was organized, founded and incorporated in the fall of 1994 by community members of Mason County and surrounding areas and officially opening to the public in 1995 at the former location in the Welcome Center on Third Street in downtown Maysville.
Pictured: Former location of the National Underground Railroad Museum. Volunteer tour guide and founding member, Mrs. Nona Marshall with students.
The museum is the first nationally established museum dedicated to study, chronicle and celebrate the underground railroad movement in the nation and the world. Since 1995, visitors from across the country and overseas have experienced our Ohio River Valley communities of the "Borderland," and shared our mission and vision as a small non profit organization.
For nearly 15 years, the NURM has been dedicated in the preservation of local, state and national history as it relates to the African slave and their American ancestry; the abolitionist movement and the national impact of local anti-slavery activists; and the events leading up to and ending the Civil War.
We look forward to your visit and thank our many visitors, supporters and friends who have made our collective vision of heritage and humanity an integral part of Mason County, Kentucky and our great United States.
THE BIERBOWER HOUSE
Pictured: Historian and educator Carolyn Miller of Augusta, KY with college students in the lower level of Bierbower Home.
At the former location, students of all ages learned of the slave trade and the fight to abolish slavery. Today, our students grow with our organizational mission to preserve and to educate, as we offer a unique opportunity for our visitors to experience the Bierbower House, located in the historic district of Maysville, KY, 38 West Fourth Street.
Through the National Underground Railroad Museum's spirit and duty of community preservation and awareness, and in cooperation with city, local and state agencies, the museum today operates within the restored home, maintains its former artifacts and exhibits, while perserving and researching its largest artifact - the Bierbower Family home.
Pictured: Group tour of students from Greater Cincinnati area, 2005.
As a "safe house," the house and its inhabitants, their life and influence as a former first family of Maysville, offers a remarkable glimpse into the lives of early citizens, businesses and surrounding area settlements. Built between 1838-1847, the home is close in proximity to Maysville's earliest settlement of "Free Colored" residents and their first churches and lodges. The lower level of the family's home served as a hiding place for runway slaves.