Henry Brown escaped slavery in 1849 by mailing himself to freedom inside a small wooden box.

On March 23, 1849, Henry Brown climbed into a wooden box lined with wool cloth. He carried only a small container of water and a few biscuits for the 350-mile trip. The box was shipped by wagon, train, and steamboat.The box had about 18 cubic feet of space inside. A resting adult needs a constant supply of fresh air to avoid breathing in too much carbon dioxide. One small hole provided just enough air to keep the carbon dioxide levels from becoming deadly.The journey was physically dangerous. At one point, the box was placed upside down on a boat for several hours. This caused blood to rush to his head, which can lead to a stroke or brain damage. He survived because the cool March weather kept his heart rate low.A low heart rate meant his body used less oxygen. When the box was finally opened in Philadelphia, Brown was alive but very stiff and thirsty. He became known as Henry Box Brown and spent the rest of his life as a free man and public speaker.