Juneteenth: Underground Railroad Harbor Cruise
Explore Boston Harbor’s hidden role in the Underground Railroad on a 2-hour narrated cruise with National Park Service staff.
During the decades preceding the American Civil War, Boston emerged as one of the most significant hubs of the Underground Railroad, where abolitionists, activists, and maritime workers helped freedom seekers escape enslavement and begin new lives in the North. Few people realize that many of these individuals arrived not by land, but by sea—secretly stowing away aboard ships traveling from southern ports into Boston Harbor.
Join National Park Service staff for a powerful 2-hour narrated harbor cruise that brings this hidden history to life. As you travel through Boston Harbor, hear stories of courage, resistance, and resilience while exploring the waterfront sites, shipping routes, and communities connected to the fight against slavery. Learn how Boston’s harbor became both a gateway to freedom and a critical part of a larger abolitionist movement that helped shape the city’s history and identity.
Cruises depart from the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.