Quarantine Station (1799 – 1859)

Quarantine Station (1799 – 1859)

  • <p>"The present quarantine station, Staten Island; Map of the New York Bay." (1857) Courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. New York Public Library Digital Collections.</p> <p>http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-2c21-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99</p>
  • <p>"Map of the Marine Hospital ground, Staten Island." Courtesy of the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division. New York Public Library Digital Collections.</p> <p>http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-f022-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99</p>
  • <p>"The ruins of the quarantine establishment, on Staten Island." Courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. New York Public Library Digital Collections.</p> <p>http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-058c-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99</p>

The Quarantine Station featured heavily in the Underground Railroad that passed through Staten Island. Moses Roper and William Grimes passed through the Quarantine Station on their journeys to freedom.

Underground Railroad conductors such as Louis Napoleon would spend time there seeking out enslaved individuals they might transfer into the railroad and away to freedom.

Others were not so lucky, such as the young lady caught at the station and forced to return to slavery in New Orleans, read more in the article below.

To learn more about the Quarantine Station and the Underground Railroad please take our Gateway to Freedom Driving Tour.

  • <p>This young woman purchased a ticket in New Orleans - passed for white onboard and was stopped at the Quarantine Station. She was sent back to New Orleans, LA. The National Era, October 7, 1852.</p>

Audio clip: The White slave I have not seen read by Robin Semple.

  • Listen to the audio