Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

Tour guide Robin had great stories & kept our interest!

Awesome historical attraction, well, for those of us who love Indiana and US history. Nice, modern interpretation center that is located next to the well maintained house of the "President of the Underground Railroad." The museum tour guide did a fabulous job of presenting the house and the story of Levi and Catherine Coffin!

The museum was fascinating and the house was amazing. Our guide was great, told us many stories along the tour. I highly recommend visiting.

Extremely well done. The hour long tour was very historical and informative. It included a 10-12 minute video to start and then the guide took us, a small group of about 10, on a tour through the house and barn next to the visitor center.

I had an encouraging time with a friend at the Levi and Catharine Coffin House. We are both pastors who are passionate about Jesus and justice. My own family history is bound to the history of Quaker abolitionists who journeyed from North Carolina to Indiana. My family (Pettiford) came to Indiana from Guilford County, NC by way of the Underground Railroad. I’m grateful for the faith of Christians who trusted the Lord to bear witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ by choosing to obey God’s call to love neighbor over dehumanizing laws and practices in this country. May we continue to imagine God’s call for faithfulness as it relates to justice in 2024 and beyond. Robin did a great job on the tour and was very informative. Thank you! I’ll definitely be back!

We went on a crazy hot day. This made the house crazy hot. But the last step in the house was the kitchen and that made it all worth it! Seriously, the sweat was pouring down all parts of me. My sunscreen was in my eyes. Joanna Hahn (I have her name written down but not in front of me and hope I'm remembering it correctly) was leading us through and just full of information. This was equally very old museum house and modern, interactive and informative. Great experience.

This was an eye opening experience. They went beyond the history and made the personal. The lives, faith and scarifies individuals went through to secure their freedom warms the heart but saddens the soul. It became apparent to me that it was not only the efforts of Levi and his family, but the entire community supported the effort.

Have always wanted to see the Levi Coffin House as my great great grandfather knew Levi Coffin. My sisters took me on my 70th birthday. It's well worth the visit.

I was deeply moved by my visit to the Coffin House in Fountain City. Levi and Catharine Coffin were part of the Underground Railroad. They housed nearly 1000 freedom seekers (run away slaves) before the Civil War. They developed a network of people to help clothe, feed, provide medical attention. and transport the runaways through town to safety. Today, their immaculately preserved home and adjacent Interpretive Center tell their story to thousands of visitors. The home and Interpretive Center are part of the Indiana State Museum system. We arrived on a Friday, not realizing that tours of the home began at certain times. The morning tour had left. We were lucky that Joanna, one of the guides, took us through the house despite our late arrival. Joanna was knowledgeable and passionate about the Coffin story. We learned a great deal. Joanna went above and beyond to provide us with this tour. The interpretive center has interactive story boards, artifacts and a theater. In the theater, a short film paints a picture of the challenges of the Underground Railroad. There is also a gift shop with some great books. Restrooms are also available. Parking is free. There is an admission charge, but we had museum membership, so there was no additional charge. The Interpretive Center is fully accessible, but the house has limitations. This is a must visit for school age kids and anyone interested in history. Be sure to visit the web site and arrive in time for tours. You will want to reserve space in advance. Plan two hours.

I will confess that for the longest time I confused the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site with the Huddleston House. I'm a nice guy, but I'm not always the brightest. The Levi and Catharine Coffin House in Fountain City is one of those rare historic sites that lives up to the "must see" label. Quite honestly, it's one of Indiana's quiet icons. This 1839 home looks like your usual Federal-style brick home at first glance. It's certainly been beautifully restored. However, looking at the house doesn't begin to give you the true history of the place. Once recognized as "The Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad," this eight-room home served as a safe haven for over 1,000 freedom seekers on their journey toward Canada. Levi and Catharine Coffin were Quakers and spent their approximately 20 years in Newport, now called Fountain City, providing food, shelter, clothing, and transportation for the over 1,000 freedom seekers who would learn that their arrival at the Coffin House was to be met with true hospitality and fierce determination. The Coffins would eventually move to Cincinnati and over the course of their lives they helped approximately 3,300 freedom seekers. The Coffin House has been ranked by The History Channel as one of the nation's "Top 25 Historical Sites." In 2016, the Smithsonian named the Coffin Interpretive Center as "One of 12 new museums around the world to visit." The Indiana Office of Tourism Development has, unsurprisingly, also called it one of Indiana's top museums. There are so many amazing experiences to be had here - simple yet profound. The Interpretive Center is sublime. While the house is, of course, not completely accessible there's much here that is and that can truly be experienced. The home is now a National Registered Historic Landmark. Fun facts: Every person who traveled through the Coffin House is known to have reached freedom. While the Coffins were by far the most active in this community, the entire community was known to be supportive and would often serve as lookouts to give the Coffins warning if bounty hunters were about to arrive. While Levi Coffin's reputation as a leader of the abolitionist movement was well known, the house was never searched. Admission is affordable - members get in free, children under three are free, children ages 3-17 are $5, adults are $10, seniors are $8, and they offer a variety of event, tour, and field trip options. The pandemic is currently influencing tours and they are scheduled and timed. This site is truly one of Indiana's gems and worth a day trip out to Fountain City. The area also has a nearby Amish population making this an ideal day trip for those who enjoy historical sites and cultural awareness.

We went on Martin Luther King Day. It is a free day. Parking in the lot is limited. Gift shop has very little, but it all looked like pretty good quality. The house structure is all original. Pieces from that era and a few family heirlooms have been returned to the home. Tour includes the home, barn, herb garden, and outhouse. We learned so many things and it was just an amazing experience to walk where men, women, and children were given their freedom. It was no easy task or passage to get to freedom. Thankful for this opportunity!

Great little museum to learn more about the founders of Fountain City IN, great staff and a beautiful building!

Wow! That is what I have to say about the Coffin home and the newer Interpretive Center. I was blown away by our visit and tour of the Coffin house. If you live in Indiana and don't know the story of Levi and Catharine Coffin, you NEED to visit! It's a story that everyone needs to hear - a true story of a Quaker couple who helped over 2000 freedom-seekers escape slavery in the 1700s. Levi Coffin was a resident and businessman in Fountain City, he built this home for his family - its an impressive-sized, brick building along the main street in Fountain City. It ended up being a vital part of the Indiana Underground Railroad that helped freedom-seekers make their way to Canada from the south. Their story is humbling. One day I want to read Levi Coffin's 700+ page book (sold at the museum gift shop). The new Interpretive Center is across the street from the home and is beautiful. Tours start here with a video and opportunity to browse through the informative area of the museum on the top floor. Due to C*vid, tours are all scheduled in advance (up to 10 people) and are limited, with 30 minutes being offered to each group to browse the Interpretive Center after the home tour.

Stopped in today with friends from Tennessee and we toured the house and museum. This was our first visit since the new visitors center was built. I have to say the state of Indiana has done us proud with the addition of this center. We did The tour and learned even more information than I have when I have toured in the past

Kicking this review off with a few "did you know's": -The Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, IN was recently featured by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the Twelve New Museums to Visit in 2016. -The Museum served as a safe haven for hundreds of fugitive slaves on their journey to Canada. Levi and Catharine Coffin's home became known as "The Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad." -Lastly, the home was named one of the top 25 historic sites in the country that every american should see Now if those fun facts don't prompt you to bookmark and visit the Levi Coffin House, I'm hoping my review will serve as the final nudge. Growing up only an hour from the museum, we often visited for school field trips. At the time, I didn't realize what a special site this is and how lucky we were to be experiencing this part of history up close. The site is one of Indiana's historical site locations meaning that members can gain access for free. Just a hop and a skip off I70. While in Fountain City, don't miss out on the Amish store down the road from the house. Sample all of the cheeses and then order a sandwich.

Knowledgeable staff. My daughter (7 yrs) and I took the tour and absolutely loved learning about the rich history. Sometimes museums and historical tours can be hit or miss at a young age but she was sucked in from the start! I have recommended many friends to check out the Levi and Catherine Coffin House!

If you're in the Richmond, IN area, or just traveling through Richmond along I-70, this is worth taking a slight detour to stop by. It's something like 7-9 miles north of I-70 on US 27, so not that far of a detour to get here. (and also, Levi Coffin's House is along US 27, and you do NOT have to drive several miles east of 27 to reach it, as the yelp map is inaccurate). Anyway, for those who don't know about him, here goes a very brief history lesson: Levi Coffin was a very well-known + famous person in the Underground Railroad. He rescued about 2,000 slaves from being recaptured by Southern slave owners in Cincinnati, and rescued about 1,400 slaves from being recaptured in the Fountain City(Newport), IN area. I'll also quickly note that in the 19th Century, Fountain City used to be called Newport. Today, Levi's Coffin house is the ONLY remaining building that still stands from when he was active in the Underground Railroad(his 19th century house in Cincinnati was unfortunately demolished decades ago). It has also been restored too, since the state purchased the home from a private owner back around the 1960s/70s. To see the home, it's only a $2 adult admission(and $1 admission for kids), so it's a very decent detour to take, if you're ever inbetween Indy and Dayton, OH on I-70(or heck, if you're anywhere in the eastern Indiana area).

This was a great stop on the way home that we will come back to see after they get the new building done after December. There was three women there checking us in or guiding us around and they were great. Not only were they friendly but they were very knowledgable. They really know the history of not only the Levi house, but of the town and surrounding areas as well. They also have a small souvenir area with some postcards and other small items. The cost to get in is $2 ($1 for kids). It's cash only though.

This is a must-visit historic site in a little out of the way town on the eastern border of Indiana. I happened upon it by chance and feel lucky to have seen this place. Levi Coffin and his wife were Quakers and created an important hub in the Underground Railroad where runaway slaves passed through on their way to Canada and freedom. Slave catchers were free to chase slaves in the northern U.S. and to search and seize with impunity. Yes, you heard me--If you, as a private citizen in Ohio or Iowa were helping a runaway slave, slave catchers could burst into your house with no warrant and simply seize their "property." Rough you up, scare your family, and tolerate their insults and bad ways. This is a very small 1830s home built with wooden pegs instead of nails. The wood, glass, and some of the furniture in the house are original. If you ever wondered what tulip tree wood looked like, go to see this house. It's such a mellow pale wood, so nice to touch. It's the volunteer docents who really make this place special. Our docent who spent at least an hour with us, is the descendant of one of the slaves who settled in the area! This was so educational. I felt uplifted that in those early days in the "old" frontier of Indiana, someone was doing the right thing. Not just with helping early African American citizens, but building such a harmonious, humble house.