Tanner's Alley, also called Tanner's Lane, was used to describe an area in Harrisburg by 1811. Many of the city's population of free blacks lived along or near Tanner's Alley, a 500-foot section of the road. It is located along the present-day Capital Park. By 1850, 900 free blacks, making up 12% of the city's population lived in Harrisburg. Residents of the ally were more likely to be the poorest residents. Churches, restaurants, dance halls, and business were also in the Tanner's Alley. The

Wesley Union African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church The Wesley Union African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is an AME Zion Church of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was formally founded in 1829, starting with a log church building. As the congregation grew throughout the 19th century, the building was ...

, founded in 1816, was located there, as well as other Underground Railroad stations in the homes of free black men and women. The Black Masonic Hall was also located there. Located at Commonwealth and Walnut streets in

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

was central to the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...

and the abolitionist movements of the 19th century. It was along a route that blacks took to get to Canada. The houses of Joseph Bustill and Dr. William Jones, nicknamed "Pap," were stations there. A historical marker at Walnut Street near 4th Street in Harrisburg notes its significance:

References

{{Authority control History of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Historic districts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Populated places on the Underground Railroad Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania