Rankin House — Underground Railroad
Ripley, Brown County, Ohio
Marker Inscription
Home of Rev. John Rankin, abolitionist, whose hilltop lantern guided freedom seekers across the Ohio River. A principal station of the Underground Railroad.
Erected by Ohio History Connection
The Story
From his house above Ripley, John Rankin and his family sheltered more than 2,000 escaping enslaved people over four decades. The lantern in his window signaled safety across the river from Kentucky.
Why it matters
The Rankin House is one of the best-documented Underground Railroad stations — a beacon, literally, of the fight against slavery.
Related people
- · John Rankin
Related events
- · Underground Railroad
Themes & tags
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