Gammon House Underground Railroad Historic Landmark

09/14/2026

Did you know that September is International Underground Railroad Month!

Throughout the month of September, the Gammon House has a featured special exhibit at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, highlighting our place within the larger story of the Underground Railroad and the pursuit of freedom.

The celebration continues with a special event at the Freedom Center this month. Sunday September 20th we invite our supporters to join us as we honor the people, places and stories that helped shape the journey toward freedom. Admission is free this day!

Visit FreedomCenter.org for more info.

09/07/2026

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was the first predominantly Black union to receive a charter with the American Federation of Labor.

When the union was founded in 1925, the Pullman Company was one of the largest employers of Black workers, many of whom were porters or maids. From carrying luggage to making beds, sleeping car porters were responsible for the train company’s reputation as a luxury travel service.

While earning a job as a Pullman porter was sometimes considered an entryway into the middle class for Black Americans, both porters and maids faced discrimination in the workplace. Reliant on tips to supplement their low wages, many porters worked up to 400 hours a month in physically demanding roles. More than ten years after their initial founding, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters successfully negotiated a contract with the Pullman Company to raise wages and establish fair hours.

📷:

Union members in 1941 in front of a YMCA in Washington, DC from the Scurlock Studio Collection at our National Museum of American History.

09/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our September Monthly Open House at the Gammon House! Each visit is an opportunity to learn from our shared history, connect with one another, and remember the power of community.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, may we continue to celebrate the strength found in unity, shared purpose, and coming together across generations!

From all of us at the Gammon House, we wish you a safe, enjoyable, and restful Labor Day weekend.

09/05/2026

We appreciate the spotlight of our beloved landmark! thank you!

09/04/2026

Yes, we’re open this Saturday! Start your holiday weekend with a visit to the historic Gammon House.

Join us Saturday, September 5th from 1–3pm to discover, learn, and connect with an important piece of Springfield and American history.

Tours are FREE and open to all ages. Donations are always appreciated and help support the preservation of the Gammon House.

Visit gammonhouse.org to learn more or make a donation.

08/31/2026

Did you know the United States has only had one African American-owned and operated automobile company?

C.R. Patterson & Sons of Greenfield, Ohio, was, and remains to this day, the only African American-owned and operated automobile company.

Charles Richard Patterson was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation in 1833. He built a successful carriage-making business that under the leadership of his son Frederick Patterson, introduced Patterson-Greenfield in 1915.

Charles Richard Patterson and his son Frederick Patteron built and sustained a business that lasted several generations and earned a place not just in African American history, but in automotive history as well.

Explore the history of C.R. Patterson & Sons and the legacy of Charles Richard Patterson: https://s.si.edu/4xvHL9h

📸 Courtesy of the Historical Society of Greenfield, Ohio.

08/31/2026

History is for everyone!

Join us Saturday, September 5th from 1–3pm for the Gammon House Monthly Open House. Explore this nationally recognized Underground Railroad landmark and discover the stories of courage and freedom preserved within its walls.

Our tours are accessible and welcoming to families, students, seniors, community groups, and visitors of all ages.

08/15/2026

One week away!

On Saturday, August 22nd, step inside the historic Gammon House as part of the Clark County Historic Homes Tour.

Built circa 1850 by George and Sarah Gammon, the Gammon House holds an important place in Clark County’s history and tells the story of courage, freedom, and the Underground Railroad. Come experience the home, learn more about the people who lived there, and discover why preserving places like the Gammon House matters for generations to come!

07/31/2026

Stop by tomorrow Saturday August 1st for our monthly open house tours! 🎉

🎉 The answer is... The Gammon House! 🏡

Did you guess it correctly? 👏

Located right here in Springfield, Ohio, the Gammon House is one of our community's most important historic landmarks. Built in the 1840s, it was home to George and Sarah Gammon and later became a documented stop on the Underground Railroad, providing refuge to freedom seekers on their journey to safety.

The Gammon House reminds us that history isn't just something we read about—it happened right here in our own community.

Thank you to everyone who played along! Keep an eye out for more local history challenges throughout the summer.

📚 Brought to you by the Cliff Park High School Social Studies Department