In early 2000, Mike Irwin talked with some local teachers and an Iowa historian about developing an interactive distance learning sixth grade project about the Underground Railroad in Iowa. He knew it was an important part of US history. As most people know, the Underground Railroad was not really a railroad at all, but rather a loose network of aid and assistance - people, hiding places, and informal organizations - that helped fugitive slaves to escape to the North and Canada. (See the Underground Railroad Map and Timeline.)

Planning the trip

Irwin says the original planning team’s basic idea was a good one. “We thought, why not create an interactive, distance learning project based on our realization that the Underground Railroad trails in Iowa are largely unknown by our K-12 students across the state, and that the Iowa curriculum requires that fourth, fifth or sixth grade students study Iowa history? Students could learn about an important aspect of both local and U.S. history in an interesting and engaging way.” It seemed both a natural and a needed project, and modest in size.

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