At the corner of Onondaga and Jefferson streets in the city of Syracuse stands the Mission restaurant. 

The converted church is home to an underground tunnel that served as a safe haven in the Underground Railroad.

"A lot of history has been altered over time, or doesn’t exist any longer," said chef and restaurant owner Stephen Morrison. "To actually have something that's still tangible, still touchable is unique."

Carved into the dirt under the building, the tunnel has a bend in the middle to hide candlelight and voices from being seen or heard.

Customers don't get to see the tunnel, but the owner does let school groups in to educate children on the history of the Underground Railroad.

He said it's crucial to keep the history alive, and having a tangible, touchable landmark brings history to life.

"There is no replica, even in museums for that," Morrison said. "Being able to go down there and touch the dirt and feel the claustrophobia. It resonates more to me when I bring other people in and they see it for the first time, because to them it has that impact."