Iowa Files: The Underground Railroad in Iowa

The Underground Railroad was a series of safe places for Freedom Seekers to receive aid on their journey to escape enslavement. Brave men and women, of all colors, faiths and circumstances were part of this network to freedom, including the Jordan family in West Des Moines. Barry Jurgensen, Midwest Regional Manager of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, will focus on the history of the Underground Railroad in Iowa and especially the John Brown Freedom Trail’s place in national history.

This joint library-Historical Society event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of West Des Moines Historical Society Members, EMC Insurance Foundation, the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation and the Iowa Arts Council. 

All Iowa Files programs will be live streamed on the West Des Moines Historical Society’s Facebook Page and all videos will be closed captioned. They will also be uploaded to their YouTube channel after the event takes place.