Secret Underground Railroad Hideaway Discovered in NYC Museum

The Merchant's House Museum uncovers a hidden passageway that was used to shelter enslaved people fleeing the South.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Preservationists have discovered a secret passageway hidden inside the walls of the Merchant's House Museum in New York City that was used as a 'safe house' on the Underground Railroad. The passageway, which was built by the museum's original owner Joseph Brewster, an abolitionist, allowed enslaved people to seek refuge as they fled the South. City officials have hailed the finding as a 'critical piece' of the struggle for freedom and justice.

Why it matters

The discovery of this hidden Underground Railroad safe house provides physical evidence of New York City's role in the abolitionist movement and the broader struggle for freedom and justice. As more details emerge, it sheds light on the courageous efforts of those who risked their lives to help enslaved people escape bondage.

The details

Preservationists examining the Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan recently uncovered a narrow passageway hidden under a set of built-in drawers that led to what they believe was a 'safe house' used to shelter enslaved people fleeing the South via the Underground Railroad. Historians believe the secret passage was constructed by the museum's original owner, Joseph Brewster, an abolitionist, in the 1830s.

  • The Merchant's House Museum was built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster.
  • The museum was purchased by the Tredwell family in 1835 and remained in their possession for nearly 100 years.
  • The Merchant's House Museum opened as a public museum in 1936.

The players

Joseph Brewster

The original owner of the Merchant's House Museum, who was an abolitionist and is believed to have had the secret passageway constructed as part of the Underground Railroad.

Seabury Tredwell

The individual who purchased the Merchant's House Museum from Brewster in 1835 and kept it in the Tredwell family's possession for nearly a century.

Merchant's House Museum

A museum located in Manhattan that recently discovered a hidden passageway within its walls that was used as a 'safe house' on the Underground Railroad.

Harvey Epstein

A Manhattan City Councilmember who stated that the discovery of the Underground Railroad safe house is a 'critical piece of the overall struggle for freedom and justice.'

Christopher Marte

A New York City Council member who noted that the finding provides 'physical evidence' of New York's role in the abolitionist movement.

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What they’re saying

“It's a critical piece of the overall struggle for freedom and justice.”

— Harvey Epstein, Manhattan Councilman (Spectrum News NY1)

“This is the most significant find in historic preservation in my career, and it's very important that we preserve this.”

— Michael Hiller, Preservation attorney and professor at Pratt Institute (Spectrum News NY1)

“Many New Yorkers forget that we were part of the abolitionist movement, but this is physical evidence of what happened in the South [during] the Civil War, and what's happening today.”

— Christopher Marte, New York City Council member (Spectrum News NY1)

What’s next

Preservationists and city officials plan to further examine the hidden passageway and work to preserve this important historical site.

The takeaway

The discovery of this secret Underground Railroad safe house within a New York City museum serves as a powerful reminder of the city's role in the abolitionist movement and the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice. It provides tangible evidence of the courageous efforts of those who risked everything to help enslaved people escape bondage.