port of harlem magazine
 
 
New Underground Railroad Series Debuts
 
Mar 19, 2026 – Apr 01, 2026
 
the gray house


Based on a true story, The Gray House (click to view trailer) is a new series about a Union-aligned woman-led network of spies led by Elizabeth Van Lew in Richmond, Virginia. The series began streaming the eight episodes on Amazon Prime Video on February 26, 2026.

The historical drama follows women like Van Lew, her mother Eliza, and Mary Bowser as they run a spy network from the Gray House in Confederate Richmond. The real Gray House was Van Lew's gray-painted home, which contrasted with the nearby White House of the Confederacy and served as a base for smuggling information, aiding escapes, and sending coded messages to Union generals like Ulysses S. Grant.

Van Lew, a Quaker abolitionist, freed her family's enslaved people and recruited Mary Bowser, who infiltrated Confederate offices. The house was demolished in 1911, but markers commemorate its role today.

Amethyst Davis stars as Mary Jane Richards, a key figure in the spy ring and the Underground Railroad. Ben Vereen plays Isham Worthy, a freed Black man coordinating Underground Railroad efforts. Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner are executive producers.

Prime Video is a paid streaming service included with an Amazon Prime membership or available as a standalone service. New users can access a 30-day free trial for full content (with ads), after which it auto-renews to a paid plan.
 
 
eturn to first page
 
 
sign up

follow us on
facebook instagram twitter youtube
Advertisers | Contact Us | Events | Links | Media Kit | Our Company | Payments Pier
 
Press Room | Print Cover Stories Archives | Electronic Issues and Talk Radio Archives | Writer's Guidelines