John Rankin House Historic Site

Rev. John Rankin and his family moved to Ripley, Ohio, in 1822 where he served as pastor of the local Presbyterian church. A staunch abolitionist, Rankin wrote a series of letters, explaining the evils of slavery to his brother Thomas, a slave owner in Virginia. Rankin's brother eventually freed his slaves and settled in Ohio. Rankin's letters were published in 1826 as "Letters on American Slavery," one of the earliest American anti-slavery books.

Rankin, his wife Jean, and their 13 children helped lead an estimated 2,000 slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. A light in the window of their hilltop home overlooking the Ohio River into Kentucky provided a beacon to runaways.

Rev/ Rankin's commitments to the church and as an Underground Railroad conductor often kept him away from home. On several occasions, it was Jean and the children that protected the home from bounty hunters and escorted runaways to stations in neighboring towns.

The John Rankin House Historic Site is administered by the Ohio Historical Society for the State of Ohio. It is locally managed by Ripley Heritage, Inc. The site is open May through October. The site is currently undergoing a restoration, which visitors will learn about during their tour as well as the history of the Rankin Family. The house is a National Historic Landmark.