The Incredible Place In Nebraska That Was Once Part Of The Underground Railroad
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The Thirteenth Amendment officially abolished slavery in America in 1865, but the fight to free slaves had already been raging for many years. The Underground Railroad, an informal and unofficial network of safe routes and hiding places, orchestrated by anti-slavery advocates from every walk of life, helped slaves escape to “free” states. Most people don’t realize that there was an Underground Railroad stop right here in Nebraska.
The Mayhew Cabin and John Brown's Cave are located in Nebraska City in southeastern Nebraska. The historic location is the only officially recognized Underground Railroad site in the state.
The cabin was built in 1855 by Allen and Barbara Mayhew, who had relocated to Nebraska the previous year. There's no way they could have known that this tiny one-room log cabin would eventually play such an important part in the emancipation of American slaves.
Barbara's brother, John Henry Kagi (sometimes spelled Kagy), was an ally of the well-known abolitionist activist John Brown. John Kagi stayed with the Mayhews over the winter of 1855-56, and it may have been during that time that the group discussed Kagi's plans to join the abolitionist efforts.
Due to the necessary secrecy at the time, we may never know the exact timeline of the way things happened in the Mayhew Cabin. However, we do know that several groups of escaping slaves hid in or under the cabin on their way to freedom.
The cabin was used as a private residence well into the 20th century. In 1937, Edward Bartling purchased the building to save it from demolition and moved it to the location on which it now stands. He restored the interior to its mid-19th century appearance and opened it as a tourist attraction.
Bartling, knowing the cabin's history, also built his interpretation of an Underground Railroad chamber beneath the building. The chamber, known as John Brown's Cave, consists of a ladder leading down from the cabin into an underground space, a long tunnel leading to a ravine near the home, and underground hiding spots like those where escaped slaves might have stayed.
No one knows for sure how many escaped slaves passed through the Mayhew Cabin, but firsthand accounts confirm that several groups did stop there on their way to freedom. The "cave" beneath the cabin isn't the actual space where slaves hid, but it's still enough to inspire chills when you walk through it and imagine what these scared, hopeful individuals must have been feeling as they made their way to a new life.
The cabin and cave are a fascinating interpretation of a little-known part of Nebraska's history. A museum space and a historic church which housed one of the first African-American congregations west of the Missouri River are also located on the historic site. There's plenty to learn in each of these places, so we recommend setting aside an entire afternoon to take your time and experience it all in depth.
Please note that the cave portion of the attraction is accessible to visitors when the attraction is open, but the underground walking tunnel is not. For an idea of what it’s like to walk through the cave and walking tunnel, watch the short video below.
As of the time of publication, the Mayhew Cabin site is closed for the season until summer. You can get information or set up an appointment to visit (at least 48 hours in advance) by calling 402-873-3115. Visit the Mayhew Cabin website to learn more about the history of this remarkable place and get information about visiting.
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As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
