Hidden Underground Railroad Passage Found in NYC Museum

Archaeologists uncover safe house hideaway in Manhattan's Merchant's House Museum

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Archaeologists have uncovered a concealed passage believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad in the basement of the Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan. The small hatch, tucked beneath a built-in dresser on the second floor, opens to a 2-by-2-foot compartment and ladder leading down, a setup experts say likely served as a hiding place and escape route for people fleeing slavery.

Why it matters

The discovery of this hidden Underground Railroad passage in the Merchant's House Museum, a landmark that has been a museum since 1936, is seen as rare, tangible evidence of New York's role in the fight against slavery. The passage's existence also sheds light on the history of the building and its former owners, the Brewster and Tredwell families.

The details

Archaeologists at the Merchant's House Museum say they've uncovered a concealed passage believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad. The small hatch, tucked beneath a built-in dresser on the second floor, opens to a 2-by-2-foot compartment and ladder leading down, a setup experts say likely served as a hiding place and escape route for people fleeing slavery. The Federal-era house in NoHo was built in 1832 by tradesman Joseph Brewster, who is believed to have installed the passage and was almost certainly an abolitionist.

  • The Merchant's House Museum has been a museum since 1936.

The players

Merchant's House Museum

A museum in Manhattan that bills itself as a time capsule of old New York and has now uncovered a hidden passage believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad.

Joseph Brewster

The tradesman who built the Federal-era house in 1832 and is believed to have installed the hidden passage, as he was almost certainly an abolitionist.

Tredwell family

The family who lived in the house for almost a century after Brewster sold the property in 1835, though it remains unclear what they knew or did with the hidden passage.

Camille Czerkowicz

The curator of the Merchant's House Museum.

Michael Hiller

A preservation attorney who calls the discovery of the hidden passage the most significant find in historic preservation in his career.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was here, but didn't really know what we were looking at.”

— Camille Czerkowicz, Curator, Merchant's House Museum (NY1)

“This is a generational find. 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 (NY1)

What’s next

The Merchant's House Museum, already under financial strain and threatened by nearby development, is now being cast by local officials as a rare, tangible evidence of New York's role in the fight against slavery that must be preserved.

The takeaway

The discovery of this hidden Underground Railroad passage in the Merchant's House Museum sheds new light on the building's history and its former owners' involvement in the abolitionist movement, underscoring the importance of preserving such rare historical artifacts that provide a tangible connection to the past.