The John Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio, is a historic brick home that played an important role in the Underground Railroad during the early 19th century. More than just a residence, it became one of the earliest and most active stations on the Underground Railroad, helping thousands of enslaved Africans find freedom across the Ohio River.
The house, built by Reverend John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister and hardcore abolitionist, in 1828, was not grand or fancy. It was simple and sturdy, with a side-gabled roof, wide wooden floors, and carved fireplace surrounds that still bear the marks of 19th-century craftsmanship. From its porch, the Rankin family could see the Ohio River glimmering below, a constant reminder of the danger and courage that defined their mission.
By night, a single lantern often burned in a window facing the river. It was a signal that the way was clear, a message to runaway slaves hiding along the Kentucky shore that they could safely cross. Once they reached the Ohio side, a steep, winding path led up the hill to the Rankin home. There, food, warmth, and protection awaited them.
The Rankins worked closely with other abolitionists and Underground Railroad conductors, forming one of the earliest and most effective networks in the nation. They hid men, women, and children in their attic or cellar, often during bitterly cold nights. Once rested, Rankin would help guide them northward to the next safe house, ensuring that their path to freedom continued.
The Rankin family’s compassion was not without consequence. Slave catchers frequently watched the house from the opposite bank, and bounty hunters sometimes crossed into Ripley hoping to capture runaways or punish those who helped them. Rankin’s home was threatened many times, and a price was placed on his head, yet he refused to abandon his cause.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 enslaved Africans found refuge within the walls of the John Rankin House. Many came from Maysville, Kentucky, directly across the river, where the horrors of slavery were ever-present. The Ohio River became both a boundary and a test of faith, one side meant bondage, the other, the fragile promise of liberty.
One story, often told in connection with the Rankin House, is that of a woman named Eliza, who fled across the frozen Ohio River with her child in her arms, pursued by slave catchers. Her hear wrenching journey inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous scene in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Whether the woman was Eliza herself or one of many like her, her story mirrors countless others who saw the lantern light from Rankin’s hill and knew it meant hope.
After the Civil War, the Rankin family sold the house, but its story continued to inspire generations. In 1938, the State of Ohio purchased the property to preserve it as a historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and later recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1997. Today, the John Rankin House is managed by the Ohio History Connection and remains open to visitors, standing as a lasting reminder of the courage and compassion that once filled its walls.
Visitors can still look out from its porch and see the same sweeping view of the river that freedom seekers once saw. It’s a powerful reminder of the thousands who crossed under cover of night, guided not only by a light in the window but by the unshakable belief that they were meant to be free.
Sources:
https://ohio.org/things-to-do/destinations/john-rankin-house
https://discoverindianahistory.org/items/show/543
https://maysville-online.com/news/210371/the-rankin-house-and-its-continued-legacy/amp
