National Parks Service Network to Freedom Site

The Corbit-Sharp House, part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and a National Historic Landmark, was accepted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the National Park Service in 2009. It is one of nine sites in Delaware on the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom.

Journey to Freedom

What is the Network to Freedom? The Network to Freedom is a significant but distinct part of the NPS’ National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. It is a diverse collection of elements comprised of historic sites, facilities, and programs that have a verifiable association to the Underground Railroad. The Network incorporates a broad range of listings that have been nominated and evaluated for their association to the Underground Railroad and have met certain established criteria.

Beginning in the 17th century and continuing through the mid-19th century in the United States, enslaved African Americans resisted bondage to gain their freedom through acts of self-emancipation. The individuals who sought this freedom from enslavement, known as freedom seekers, and those who assisted along the way, united together to become what is known as the Underground Railroad. The National Park Service and members of the Network to Freedom tell these stories of escape to demonstrate the significance of the Underground Railroad in the eradication of slavery as a cornerstone of the national civil rights movement. 

Learn More about the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program »