A historic Manhattan home that’s long been a window into 19th-century New York life has just revealed an unexpected secret. It turns out the Merchant’s House Museum, a preserved landmark in the NoHo neighborhood, appears to have once served as a refuge for people escaping slavery.
The discovery came during an inspection of a built-in dresser in a second-floor hallway. When archaeologists examined the area beneath its drawers, they found a small rectangular opening cut into the floorboards. The opening led to a concealed space, roughly 2 feet by 2 feet, complete with a ladder down to the ground floor.
Expert said the secret passage suggests the house may have functioned as a “safe house” on the Underground Railroad, the secret network of abolitionists who helped enslaved people flee to freedom before and during the Civil War. The hidden space and ladder could have provided both a quick hiding spot and a fast escape route if danger approached.
Back then, danger was very real. In the years leading up to the Civil War, slave catchers, sometimes aided by civilians and law enforcement, hunted down people who had escaped bondage. The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act allowed them to pursue those who had fled, even in northern states, offering financial rewards for their capture.
“We knew it was here, but didn’t really know what we were looking at,” said Camille Czerkowicz, the museum’s curator, speaking to NY1, which first reported the story.
Michael Hiller, a preservation attorney and professor at Pratt Institute, called the discovery “extraordinary.” After more than three decades in the field, he described it as “a generational find” and one of the most significant discoveries of his career. He emphasized how important it is to preserve the space.
The Merchant’s House was built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster, a tradesman. Just three years later, it was sold to the Tredwell family, who lived there for about a century before the house eventually became a museum.
Architectural historian Patrick Ciccone believes the hidden space was likely built by Brewster himself, who he says was almost certainly an abolitionist. Whether the Tredwell family knew about the concealed passage, or used it, remains unclear.
“Being an abolitionist was incredibly rare among white New Yorkers, especially wealthy white New Yorkers,” Ciccone explained. As the builder, Brewster would have had the freedom to incorporate such a feature into the home’s design.
The building has long been recognized for its historic importance. It became Manhattan’s first designated landmark in 1965 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In recent years, however, the museum has faced financial struggles and concerns about its future, including plans for a new eight-story development on a neighboring lot.
City councilman Christopher Marte said the discovery underscores why the building matters.
“Many New Yorkers forget that we were part of the abolitionist movement,” he said. “This is physical evidence of what happened in the South during the Civil War .and why that history still matters today.”
