Explore the Todd House Grounds

You are standing in front of the Todd House, a white, single-story, square, wood-frame house. The house has a black door in the center with two rectangular windows, one on each side of the door. There is a ground level porch that runs the length of the front of the house. Holding up the porch are four evenly-spaced, white, rectangular pillars.

House Description

The Todd House, Tabor, Iowa

Reverend John and Martha Todd built this house in 1853. It was the third structure built in the village of Tabor, Iowa. There weren’t a lot of trees in the area, so they used dried mud for the foundation and later replaced it with stone. The Todd family, along with other founders of Tabor, believed their Christian faith demanded they fight the injustices of slavery. Establishing their town in the southwest corner of Iowa positioned them perfectly to help freedom seekers out of Missouri. The entire community of Tabor worked together to support freedom seekers.

Image 1: A map of Iowa with the Todd House designated in the southwest corner of the state at Tabor. The map also shows the Nebraska and Kansas Territories to the west of Iowa. The Nebraska Territory ends below Iowa at the northwest side of Missouri. The Kansas Territory starts below the northwest corner of the state of Missouri.

Image 2: A black and gray marble sign with a lantern that reads “Welcome to Tabor. Lighting the way since 1852.”

Image 3: The Todd House

Image 4: A sign that reads “Todd House Museum Underground Railroad Station.”

Image 5: A certificate from the state of Iowa that reads “Division of Historic Preservation, Iowa State Historical Department. This certifies that Todd House has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places. This action was taken under the provision of the National Historic Preservation Act of October 15, 1966 and Chapter 303, the Code of Iowa.”

Question A

There was no way to know by the looks of the Todd House that a freedom seeker would be welcomed. How could one be sure they would be safe asking for help? And in what ways did John and Martha Todd support freedom seekers on their journey?

Question B

Today, Tabor is a community of about 1,000 people. The Todd House is now a museum and is surrounded by residential homes. When the Todds first built this house, the other homes you see would not have been there. Instead, tall, thick prairie was there. What were the advantages and disadvantages for freedom seekers traveling through the prairie?

Question C

The Todd House was the third home built in Tabor. While the entire community worked together to support freedom seekers, it started out quite small. As bounty hunters searched for freedom seekers, they might camp directly across the street from the Todd House. How does the potential for bounty hunters nearby impact a freedom seeker’s journey through Tabor?