the salt wate r unde rground railroad by Stefan Moss, MESc, Middle School science teacher As a native of the Bahamas, the story of the Saltwater Railroad is personal to me. These islands, with their crystal-clear waters and sun-drenched beaches, hold more than natural beauty— they are keepers of a profound legacy of courage and hope. In 2018, I created the Saltwater Underground Railroad Experience to bring this history to life. Using the power of Google Earth, the virtual tour at saltwaterrailroad.org transports visitors back to a time when enslaved men and women risked everything for freedom. This six year labor of love is now part of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, a testament to the stories that have shaped our world and my homeland. While the northern route of the Underground Railroad has been widely chronicled, the southern path to freedom—toward Florida and The Bahamas—remains a lesser-known but equally remarkable journey. Centuries ago, enslaved individuals fleeing brutal conditions in the southeastern United States saw hope across the Florida straits. Spanish-controlled Florida offered refuge, granting freedom to those who converted to Catholicism and joined the military. By the 1820s, as the threat of re-enslavement loomed larger, many sought sanctuary even further south in The Bahamas. One such haven was Red Bays on Andros Island, a settlement founded by Black Seminoles—former slaves who found safety among the Seminole people of Florida before seeking freedom in the British-controlled Bahamas. Red Bays remains a living monument to their resilience, a place where their descendants continue to honor the sacrifices of their ancestors.
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