Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum, Ashtabula

About Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum

Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum preserves the history of a home that served as a northern terminus of the Underground Railroad in Ashtabula. Built by William and Katharine Hubbard around 1841, the brick house functioned as a station where enslaved people fleeing the antebellum South received food, shelter, and clothing. Visitors tour the restored home, which is furnished with period pieces and items from Ashtabula County, and learn how the Hubbard family and their community aided fugitive slaves traveling toward Canada. The house itself tells the story of its construction—bricks made from clay dug from Lake Erie's banks and masonry work completed by an enslaved man known as Uncle Jake. Once threatened with demolition in 1979, the home was rescued and restored to its 1840s appearance. The museum operates with volunteer-guided tours, allowing visitors to understand the courage and compassion of those involved in this clandestine network. Admission is free. The museum is located in Ashtabula, Ohio.