Shimer College

Historical marker location:

Mount Carroll, Illinois

( Marker is on Unnamed campus entrance road, 0 miles east of South Clay Street (Illinois Route 78), on the right when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1968

The state of Illinois played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom in the 19th century. Many abolitionists in Illinois provided safe houses for escaping slaves, and Chicago was a key hub on the Underground Railroad.