A remarkable piece of American history has been uncovered in Manhattan: a hidden passage linked to the Underground Railroad, concealed inside the bottom drawer of an antique dresser.
The discovery was made in a historic 19th-century home now serving as a museum. Beneath the drawer, investigators found a narrow shaft and hidden space, likely used to shelter freedom seekers escaping slavery. Concealed in furniture, the passage would have provided a discreet hiding place during searches, at a time when aiding escaped slaves was illegal.
The find offers rare physical evidence of New York City’s role in the Underground Railroad and highlights the bravery of both freedom seekers and those who helped them. As historians study the site, it serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes history is hiding in plain sight — even at the bottom of a dresser drawer.
