Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

A REFUGE FOR FREEDOM-SEEKERS

From the outside it looks like a normal, beautifully-restored, Federal-style brick home built in 1839. On the inside, however, it has some unusual features that served an important purpose in American history. This eight-room home served as a safe haven for more than 1,000 freedom-seekers on their journey to Canada. Levi and Catharine Coffin’s home became known as “The Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad.”

Children Under 3 Admission: Free

Youth (Ages 3 - 17) Admission: $6

Adults (Ages 18 - 59) Admission: $11

Seniors (Ages 60+) Admission: $9

Members Admission: Free

PURCHASE TICKETS

Purchasing a guided tour is necessary to visiting the Levi and Catharine Coffin home. Timed, indoor tours and guided help are available Wednesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Use of paranormal equipment of any kind is not permitted on tours.

Walk up tour tickets are subject to availability. Purchasing online or by calling the site is recommended to ensure tour registration especially when visiting on a free day or when schools are in session.

Purchase Tickets

Operating Hours

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Holidays

Easter – Closed

Memorial Day – Open for preregistered tours only

July 4th – Open

Labor Day – Open for preregistered tours only

Thanksgiving – Closed

Christmas Eve – Closed

Christmas Day – Closed

New Year’s Eve – Closed

New Year’s Day – Limited hours with preregistered tours only

Free Days

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20)

Presidents Day (Feb. 17)

Juneteenth Celebration (date tbd)

Programs & Events

STEP BACK IN TIME WITH US

Being a Quaker home, the Coffin house would not have had many of the era’s decorative features such as narrow columns, delicate beading or dentil trim. During the 20 years they lived in Newport (now Fountain City), the Coffins worked to provide transportation, shelter, food and clothing to more than 1,000 freedom-seekers. Many of their stories are told in Levi Coffin’s 1876 memoir, Reminiscences.

For their journeys north, freedom-seekers often used three main routes to cross from slavery to freedom—through Madison or Jeffersonville in Indiana, or Cincinnati, Ohio. From these points, slaves traveled to Newport through the Underground Railroad. The Coffins’ “station” was so successful that every person who passed through eventually reached freedom.

The location of the house, on Highway 27 at the center of an abolitionist Quaker community, allowed the entire community to act as lookouts for the Coffins and give them plenty of warning when bounty hunters came into town.

“I had already risked every thing in the work – life, property, and reputation – and did not feel bound to respect human laws that came in direct contact with the law of God.”

Levi Coffin

See why this is named one of the top 25 historic sites in the nation!

The Coffin House was ranked as “one of the nation’s Top 25 Historical Sites” by the History Channel. In 2016, the Smithsonian named the Levi Coffin House Interpretive Center “one of 12 new museums around the world to visit,” while the Indiana Office of Tourism Development voted it as one of the top museums in the State of Indiana. Come see why.

Explore our Interpretive Center

Here you will learn about the history behind this historic site in an orientation video. Afterwards, tour the building (Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to learn even more about the Coffins’ role in helping thousands find their way to freedom.

Experience the Underground Railroad

Lay your head in a mock false-bottom wagon to hear sounds of what it would have been like hiding in one of these escape tools. Try to lift a cotton bale, and learn about how slaves worked about one week to pick enough cotton for one bale.

Tour this Historic Landmark

Enjoy a guided tour of the actual home where the Coffins housed so many freedom-seekers. Inside you’ll find unique features like a basement kitchen, a spring-fed well in the basement, and large attic and storage garrets on the side of the rear room that served as convenient hiding places.

Explore Unique Artifacts

Escaping slaves were well hidden for their travels in wagons like this one, equipped with false-bottoms and used to transport freedom-seekers to the next safe house.

students at Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

LOOKING TO BOOK A FIELD TRIP?

Help bring history, science, art and education to life for your students with a one-of-a-kind field trip experience. All state historic sites support Indiana Academic Standards, and feature a variety of academic topics. Call 765.847.1691 to schedule your visit to Levi & Catharine Coffin House.

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True Stories from the Underground Railroad

Eileen Baker-Wall grew up in Fountain City and has been a longtime volunteer at the site. The shoe she is holding belonged to her great-great grandfather William Bush. Stories of her grandfather were passed down in her family, ones that tell of William’s escape from slavery in North Carolina, sometime in the 1840s. According to family stories, part of William’s escape included hiding inside a wooden crate that was supposedly shipped to Levi Coffin in Newport (now Fountain City).

Our Members Preserve this Lasting Legacy

Our members help preserve and protect the valuable lessons that sites like this provide visitors from all over the world. What will you learn today?

Become a Member Today

Plan Your Trip

Admission

Timed, indoor tours are available Wednesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Use of paranormal equipment of any kind is not permitted on tours.

Walk up tour tickets are subject to availability. Purchasing online or by calling the site is recommended to ensure tour registration especially when visiting on a free day or when schools are in session.
Purchase Tickets
Contact

765.847.1691

[email protected]

201 U.S. 27 North
Fountain City, IN 47341
Participate in a scavenger hunt

In 2019, Fountain City received a designation on the National Register as a historic district. This community, which started in the early 1800s, has a variety of buildings and homes that show a range of architectural styles.

From April through October, enjoy a fun and engaging scavenger hunt as you try and find and identify great historic features. Return your answers to the Coffin Interpretive Center for a keepsake! To start, come to the Coffin gift shop and ask how to participate. Cost is $2 per family.
Group Rate

Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 visitors or more. To receive group rates, please call the site in advance and purchase all tickets with one payment. Find prices below.

Adults – $10
Seniors* – $8
Youth* – $5
Children under 3 – FREE
*Seniors: Ages 60 and older, Youth: Ages 3 through 17

For group transportation to a state historic site, contact our partners at CharterUP.
Discounts

Special discounts are available for educators and education groups, military, Access Pass holders and more. View all discounts >>
School Groups

Field trip admission is free for pre-scheduled, accredited schools and homeschool groups of 10 or more Indiana K-12 students. Members of the Indiana Association of Homeschool Educators receive free daily admission with proof of membership. Call 765.847.1691 to schedule your visit. Non-Indiana school groups pay a $2 per person admission rate for a pre-registered visit.

Academic topics covered include abolitionism, Underground Railroad in Indiana, slavery and law.
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Girl Scouts

Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site has numerous opportunities for Girl Scouts throughout the year. We also offer a free, printable Badge Explorer Guide!
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Commercial Photography And Videography

If you are a photographer looking to book a shoot at Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site, please review our commercial photography policy and application process. Learn more >>