At this former ferry crossing landing, hundreds of escaped slaves experienced freedom for the first time. From 1796 until 1949, ferries were one of the main links between the two border cities of Buffalo, N.Y. and Fort Erie, Ontario. During the first half of the 19th century, they also provided the key to freedom in Canada for many escaping Blacks. The Underground Railroad was a secret system of stations and conductors which aided Blacks in their escape to the more tolerant northern States, or ultimately to the freedom of Canada. Fort Erie became a popular crossing for many Blacks, as it is one of the most southerly points of contact with the United States. Ferry operators aided escaped slaves and used a secret system of tokens to distinguish bona fide passengers from potential spies.