Prepare Special History of Slave Stampedes, The Underground Railroad on the Missouri River Boarderlands- MWRO | NPS NOIP18AC00145

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00145

This National Park Service (Department of the Interior) grant opportunity, titled "Prepare Special History of Slave Stampedes, The Underground Railroad on the Missouri River Borderlands - MWRO," funds the creation of a focused historical study that re-examines the Underground Railroad in Missouri and Illinois by centering on episodes described as "slave stampedes" between 1845 and 1861. The project is designed to move beyond broad narratives by closely documenting and analyzing group escape attempts in a defined borderlands region along the Missouri River, building a clearer, evidence-based picture of how, where, and why these escapes happened and what outcomes followed.

The work emphasizes systematic research and documentation. The selected recipient is expected to inventory and evaluate sources, then conduct in-depth investigation primarily using period newspapers and legal records. The study will aim to identify specific events and reconstruct key details such as locations and routes, dates and timing, the people involved (those escaping as well as those pursuing, aiding, or prosecuting), and the final results, including which escape efforts ended in freedom and which ended in capture. By organizing these incidents in a consistent, methodical way, the project intends to establish an approach that can be replicated for studying similar patterns in other border states and related National Park sites.

Although the geographic focus is regional, the National Park Service frames the project as contributing to a wider understanding of slavery, resistance, and freedom-seeking. It positions the Underground Railroad as the nation's first Civil Rights Movement and argues that studying "stampedes" in detail can deepen public understanding of both the scale of collective resistance and the risks created by border-state politics, law enforcement, and slavery-era legal systems. The project also connects directly to interpretation and public history needs at two National Park units referenced as JEFF and LIHO, using the shared regional history to support stronger, more nuanced storytelling and engagement at those sites.

Deliverables include a written special history presented as a monograph that will be made publicly available, along with a digital platform that shares the research in an accessible format. The digital component is intended to extend the reach of the work beyond academic audiences, supporting public learning and helping diverse audiences connect with the history through parks and online access. The National Park Service also highlights that the resulting methods and findings can serve as a model for future research initiatives in other border regions where similar Underground Railroad histories remain understudied.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement (indicating active collaboration or involvement by the National Park Service). The opportunity number is NPS NOIP18AC00145, created June 13, 2018, with an original closing date of June 25, 2018. Eligibility is limited to private institutions of higher education. The program anticipates one award with a maximum (ceiling) of $150,000. The activity categories span humanities (cultural affairs) as well as research and development, and the listing references CFDA 15.945.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Prepare Special History of Slave Stampedes, The Underground Railroad on the Missouri River Boarderlands- MWRO" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 13, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00145

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