From the time slavery was introduced to the Colonies until it was abolished in 1865, enslaved people made ceaseless efforts to escape its reach. The flight to freedom — whether by foot, horseback, carriage, wagon or boat — was difficult and exceedingly dangerous.

In name only, the Underground Railroad started as a loosely organized secret network of courageous and imaginative freedom seekers, and the brave operatives who assisted them. It was powered not by coal but by human courage.

As railroads grew in the 1830s and 1840s, the secret network adopted their terminology. “Stationmasters” and “conductors” assisted “passengers” traveling from one “station” to another on the Underground Railroad. Over time, the network coalesced into a well-organized system as it responded to the increasing numbers of freedom seekers and a corresponding rise in attempts to thwart escapes.

Most remained anonymous, but some left their mark on history, including the 10 men and women honored on these Forever stamps.