Deceived by two men offering him a job as a musician, Northup traveled to Washington, D.C., where he was drugged and woke up to find himself in chains.
He was sold into slavery and spent the next 12 years of his life on various plantations in Louisiana. During his time in bondage, Northup endured harsh conditions and inhumane treatment but also formed bonds with other enslaved individuals.
He managed to smuggle letters to his family, eventually leading to a legal battle for his freedom. During this time, he was enslaved to Edward Epps and living on his farm. This is one of a couple of historic house locations connected to his life.
Upon regaining his freedom, Northup returned to New York and became an active abolitionist. He authored a memoir, ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’ It became a bestseller and significantly contributed to the anti-slavery movement in the years leading up to the Civil War.
Edwin Epps House
The Edwin Epps House is another significant location in Solomon Northup’s life. Located on the campus of Louisiana State University of Alexandria near Avoyelles Parish, the house was built in 1852. It’s believed that Northup helped construct this double-sided wood frame house while he was enslaved on Epps’ farm.
It’s there, scholars believe that Epps learned that Northup, who was kidnapped into slavery, was actually a free man. During its history, the house was relocated twice. It was first moved in 1976 to Bunkie, where it was placed on the register of historic places in 1984. The house was dismantled a number of years later, with some materials being replaced and reconstructed on the Louisiana State University of Alexandria campus.
There were those who, at the time, protested this move, saying that it destroyed the integrity of the historic site. It was later delisted from the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, you can visit the house to learn more about plantation life, the inhumanity of slavery, and, specifically, how it connects to Northup’s life. There is a marker at the house that indicates that the Epps once “owned” Solomon Northup, author of the famous slave narrative ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’
Solomon Northup Old Fort House Museum
The Old Fort House Museum in Fort Edward, New York, is another house/historic site connected to Solomon Northup’s life. He moved there with his wife in 1828 and lived there for the next four years. It was eight years after that, in 1840, that he was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Today, the house features a permanent exhibition dedicated to Solomon Northup’s life and legacy. It includes a room that contains artifacts associated with his life and an original copy of ‘Twelve Years a Slave.’
The Museum is open from June to October for regular tours and is located on Lower Broadway in Fort Edward.
In total, the museum grounds include five buildings with several local artifacts. Their expressed mission is to bring together people interested in history, especially those connected to the local area.
FAQs
Where did Solomon Northup live?
Before he was kidnapped into slavery, Northup lived in New York State, primarily in areas such as Saratoga Springs and Minerva. After his kidnapping in 1841, Northup was forced to live on various plantations in Louisiana for 12 years.
