2 03, 2024

2024-03-02T09:37:06-05:00

Updated March 1, 2024

Harriet Tubman Funeral | Visit Dorchester

Harriet Tubman’s funeral in 1913 in Auburn, New York.

Celebrate Harriet Tubman in the land where she was born this March. Harriet Tubman Day is officially observed in the United States on March 10 to commemorate the anniversary of her passing on that day in 1913. Since she was also born in March in 1822 here in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we consider March to be Harriet Tubman Month. Below are a few ideas on how to mark the month along the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

Also, you can read more about her passing – and the four-act affair that was her funeral, drawing some 1,000 people – in this story from Secrets of the Eastern Shore.

Harriet Tubman continues to gain attention around the country. The U.S. Mint released commemorative Tubman coins (available only in 2024). The U.S. Postal Service included her on a new set of postage stamps. And media outlets from NASA’s Earth Observatory publication to Bay to Bay News (with a four-part series) to Biography have recently shared stories of her remarkable life.

So take a few moments, a day, or a weekend to learn more….

 

Take the Harriet Tubman Road Trip

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

Harriet TubmanExperience stories of hope and redemption along the scenic road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which includes sites related to Tubman and other freedom seekers in the 1800s. The byway begins in Dorchester County, Maryland (birthplace of Tubman), and winds its way to Philadelphia. It encompasses 45 sites, including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and the Harriet Tubman Museum. Download the online map and guide – and don’t miss the free audio guide app, with virtual and augmented reality features at some of the sites. Learn more

 

Harriet Tubman Month Events 2024

The Free Black Chesapeake Project

March 2, 2024
Join teaching artist ChelseaDee for an art and history workshop and public art-making session. Through poetry and collage, reflect on and celebrate local free Black communities ad how they inspired Harriet Tubman and promoted freedom in pre-Civil War Maryland and beyond. For ages 15 to 75+. The day includes, from 11am-1pm: Art & History Workshop (space is limited); and 1-3pm: Public Art-Making. At the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD. RSVP online or by email at freeblackchesapeake@gmail.com.

 

 

USPS commemorative Underground Railroad stamps - 2024

USPS commemorative Underground Railroad stamps – 2024

Harriet Tubman Day at the Tubman Visitor Center

March 9

Millicent Sparks as Harriet Tubman | Visit DorchesterThe Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD hosts its annual Harriet Tubman Day Celebration with a special twist this year. The day includes a special First Day of Issue Dedication Ceremony for the Underground Railroad Commemorative Forever Stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service! Stamps go on sale at 10am and the program begins at 11am. The stamps feature Harriet Tubman and nine other heroes who escaped slavery and/or helped others escape. The stamp event – in partnership with the USPS and the National Park Service – is a tented outdoor event that is free and open to the public at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. RSVP here. Tubman Day festivities also include well-known Tubman re-enactor Millicent Sparks at 1pm, Tubman biographer Dr. Kate Clifford Larson at 2pm, and a National Park Service program at 3pm on “Setting the Foundation for Success: How the National Park Service Applies Harriet Tubman’s Story to the Chesapeake Bay Region.”

 

Film Screening: Eroding History

March 9, 6:30pm
This film is being shown in honor of Harriet Tubman Day. Produced by the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative, the film is “a climate justice story at the intersection of sea level rise, historic racism, and disappearing Black communities.” At the Dorchester Center for the Arts in Cambridge, MD. Doors open at 6pm. Panel discussion to follow. Watch the trailer. Tickets $10. Buy tickets.

Birding the Harriet Tubman Byway | Visit Dorchester

Birding the Tubman Byway.

Birding the Harriet Tubman Byway

March 29, April 25
Combine birding with history during a Birding the Byway tour, hosted by Delmarva Birding Weekends and Harriet Tubman Tours. During her formative years on the Brodess Farm and as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, Tubman would have been intimately familiar with the birds and wildlife of Dorchester County. She used the call of a Barred Owl to alert freedom seekers that it was safe to come out of hiding and continue northward. The same birds that Tubman would have known more than 170 years ago still inhabit the fields, forests and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. More info

 

Beacon of Hope statue | Visit Dorchester

“Beacon of Hope” sculpture by Wesley Wofford. At the Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge, MD.

Explore Harriet Tubman in public art and more

Photography was invented the same year that Harriet Tubman was born – 1822. But back then, cameras were rare and very expensive, and photography was mostly limited to those with sufficient funds to afford it. Thus, we know of only a handful of photos of Tubman – and the earliest of those was taken when she was in her 40s. (See two recently rediscovered photos.) But artists through the years have created likenesses of Tubman in many ways. In Dorchester County, Maryland – the place where she was born and toiled in slavery for more than 25 years – there are several public art pieces that pay homage to her bravery and selflessness. Here are a few:

  • “Beacon of Hope” – Harriet Tubman sculpture by Wesley Wofford is full of symbolic meaning. Located at the Dorchester County Courthouse (once the site of slave auctions), 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD
  • “Take My Hand” mural by Michael Rosato – at the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center, 424 Race St., Cambridge, MD. The museum is also home to the new interior mural, “Minty’s Act of Courage” by Michael Rosato. And features various portraits created by artists.
  • Harriet Tubman Mural by Charles Ross (one of Tubman’s relatives who lives locally) at the Tubman Memorial Garden, U.S. Route 50 at Washington Street, Cambridge, MD
  • African American Heritage mural by Michael Rosato – Includes Tubman and highlights of life in the past along Pine Street, one of the oldest African-American communities in the country, dating back to the mid-1800s. Near the corner of Maryland Avenue and Route 50 in Cambridge, MD
  • Dorchester County Women’s Mural – Tubman is featured along with 11 other prominent local women from past and present. 418 Poplar St., Cambridge, MD. By the way, it seems fitting that March is also Women’s History Month!
  • Minty’s Place – This restaurant borrows Harriet Tubman’s childhood name, Minty. On the exterior side of the restaurant, there’s a mural by Michael Rosato that includes her final words before she passed: “I go to prepare a place for you….” 824 Locust St., Cambridge, MD. (Check the restaurant’s social media to see if they’re open before stopping in for a meal.)

 

Ben's Ten- MPT Documentary - Feb2024

Maryland Public Television: Ben’s Ten: Chattel Slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Watch a new Maryland Public Television one-hour documentary that sheds light on the lives of enslaved Marylanders, including a young Harriet Tubman. “Ben’s Ten” follows a Maryland team of archaeologists and historians as they discover remnants of a home believed to belong to Ben Ross, the father of Harriet Tubman. Read more about the documentary.
and watch it here.

 

2024-03-02T09:37:06-05:00
2 03, 2024

UGRR stamps to be dedicated at Harriet Tubman Day March 9

2024-03-02T09:14:19-05:00
Join in the Harriet Tubman Day celebration on March 9, 2024 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD. The highlight will be the official, national dedication of the new U.S. Postal Service stamps that feature Tubman and nine other Underground Railroad heroes! Plus a presentation by well-known Tubman re-enactor Millicent Sparks at 1pm; a talk by Kate Clifford Larsen, author of “Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero,” at 1pm; and an National Park Service presentation at 3pm
>> If you’re interested in the stamp dedication, it’s at 11am (stamps go on sale at 10am). RSVP here.
>> Make a weekend of it by exploring the road trip known as the Tubman Byway here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Plan your trip at HarrietTubmanByway.org.
>> And for more ideas of how to mark Harriet Tubman Month, see this roundup.
UGRR stamps to be dedicated at Harriet Tubman Day March 92024-03-02T09:14:19-05:00
26 02, 2023

5 ways to celebrate Harriet Tubman Month in her homeland in March 2023

2023-03-11T08:58:21-05:00

Celebrate Harriet Tubman in the land where she was born in March, unofficially considered Harriet Tubman Month. This was the month she was born here in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. And March 10 is officially Harriet Tubman Day in the United States – commemorating the anniversary of her passing on that day in 1913. Here are a few ideas on how to mark Tubman Month here along the Tubman Byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Harriet Tubman Day at the Tubman Visitor Center

March 11, 10:30am-3:30pm

Tubman Visitor CenterThe Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center hosts its annual Harriet Tubman Day Celebration with programs, activities, and ranger-led talks. Free admission. In Church Creek, Maryland along the Tubman Byway.

  • 10:30am: “Valhalla Voices.” Performed by Cambridge-South Dorchester High School students.
  • 11am: From Africa to America: The Advent of Negro Spirituals – Ranger Lawson Nwakudo explores the history of spirituals and how they serve as the cultural undergirding of African American music.
  • 12pm: Tubman’s Tree: Harriet Tubman and the Eastern Red Cedar. A ranger shares the role this tree species played in Tubman’s life.
  • 1pm: Unknown Maryland Freedom Seekers from the Eastern Shore. Hear the stories of Alexander Helmsley, Moses Viney, and Isaac Mason – some of the lesser known courageous people who escaped slavery.
  • 1pm: Meet Harriet Tubman. Official Griot for the State of Maryland, Janice Curtis Greene interprets Harriet Tubman.
  • 2pm: Visions of Freedom. Watch this film and join in a question-and-answer session.
  • 12-3pm: Family activities include a 12pm reading of the children’s book “An Apple for Harriet Tubman,” followed by traditional children’s games and crafts.

See the flyer.

While you’re there, don’t miss the Harriet Tubman Byway Quilt, which depicts all 45 sites along the byway. It was created by the National African American Quilt Guild. Watch this video for close-up views of each square.

Harriet Tubman Day: Stories at the Sculpture

March 11, 4pm

Walter Jones, storyteller and musicianExperience the extraordinary power of storytelling through the narratives of Harriet Tubman’s journeys and those who have been inspired by her. To celebrate Harriet Tubman Day, the new Beacon of Hope sculpture in Cambridge, MD (along the Tubman Byway) will be the scene for music, stories and reminiscences that connect, inspire and engage. The program, sponsored by Alpha Genesis Community Development Corp. and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center, is free and open to the public. The location for this occasion is especially appropriate – the new Beacon of Hope sculpture of Harriet Tubman that was just unveiled last fall at the Dorchester County Courthouse, 206 High Street, Cambridge. In case of rain, the event will be held inside at the Harriet Tubman Museum, 424 Race Street, Cambridge.

The schedule features:

  • Musical Storyteller. Walter Jones, an engaging storyteller and musician, will perform.
  • Stories in the Stones. Each of the inscribed pavers at the sculpture has a story and a personal connection to Harriet Tubman. Hear first-hand compelling and inspiring tales.
  • Youth Inspiration. Hear from our next generation, in their own words, as young authors read from their Harriet Tubman-inspired book, Discovering Harriet: Harriet’s Journey Home. Students from Dorchester County wrote and illustrated the book.

See the flyer.

See program schedule.

Take a road trip through Tubman Country

Bucktown General Store - Harriet Tubman Byway - Photo by Jill JasutaExplore the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which begins in Dorchester County, Maryland – where Harriet Tubman was born – and winds its way to Philadelphia. It encompasses 45 sites, including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center. Don’t miss the free audio guide app, with virtual and augmented reality features at some of the sites. Plan your trip.

Combine history and birding

Birding the Tubman Byway - Photo courtesy Delmarva Birding WeekendsJoin a Birding the Tubman Byway tour on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, which combines history and nature. During this guided, self-driven tour, you’ll learn about the life and times of the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. The route courses through the farms and Chesapeake Bay marshes of Dorchester County, home to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and some of the best birding and Bald Eagle watching on America’s Eastern Seaboard. Led by Delmarva Birding Weekends and Harriet Tubman Tours.
The next tour date is 1-5pm, March 25, 2023; more dates may be added. Details.

Join a tour or walk

  • Join a tour of the Tubman Byway with Harriet Tubman Tours. Half-day, full-day, and custom tours available.  Find out more.
  • Take a guided walk of some of the Tubman Byway sites with the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center. Find out more or call 410-228-0401.

 

5 ways to celebrate Harriet Tubman Month in her homeland in March 20232023-03-11T08:58:21-05:00
16 02, 2023

Governor shares archaeological news along Tubman Byway

2023-02-26T09:22:34-05:00

We were honored to have Maryland Governor Wes Moore at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center in Church Creek, Maryland on Feb. 14. He was here to help share the latest archaeological discoveries on land where Harriet Tubman was born into slavery. Archaeologists discovered evidence of a home – believed to be that of an enslaved overseer, possibly Jerry Manokey – on the Thompson Farm, the birthplace of Tubman here in Dorchester County, Maryland. The finds include a brick foundation and many artifacts, including a West African spirit cache.

The news follows the April 2021 announcement of the discovery of the home site of Ben Ross, Harriet Tubman’s father. While the Ross home site is on land owned by Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, this new find is on privately owned land. The artifacts will soon be on display at the Tubman Visitor Center. Archaeologists will continue their research on the on land that was once the Thompson plantation this spring and summer.
>> Read more from in this story from Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

Photos courtesy of the Executive Office of the Governor.

Posted Feb. 16, 2023

Governor shares archaeological news along Tubman Byway2023-02-26T09:22:34-05:00
22 12, 2022

New Harriet Tubman Byway Extension in Pennsylvania

2023-03-15T11:02:19-04:00

You can extend your journey!

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway – which begins in Dorchester County, MD – now extends into Pennsylvania! “Building off the more than 200 miles of byways honoring Harriet Tubman’s legacy in Maryland and Delaware, Pennsylvania’s segment along State Route 52 follows routes used by Harriet Tubman and other leaders of the Underground Railroad as they courageously led Americans from enslavement to freedom…” Read more …

New Harriet Tubman Byway Extension in Pennsylvania2023-03-15T11:02:19-04:00
12 09, 2022

New ‘Beacon of Hope’ Harriet Tubman statue finds permanent home in her homeland

2023-03-15T11:02:52-04:00

The amazing new Harriet Tubman sculpture, “Beacon of Hope” has now made its permanent home in Cambridge, Maryland – just a few miles from where the Underground Railroad conductor was born in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Sept. 10, 2022 dedication of this remarkable, 13-foot bronze sculpture by artist Wesley Wofford, was filled with deep emotions, meaningful words, dance, poetry, and music. (Watch video of the ceremony.) The timing was perfect: 2022 is the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth, and September is International Underground Railroad Month.

The vision to create the statue began more than two years ago, when Wofford created “The Journey to Freedom,” a traveling sculpture of Harriet Tubman that was designed to go from city to city, on display for a month or two at each location. The statue was on display in Dorchester County, Maryland – birthplace of Harriet Tubman – in 2019. Once the statue went on to its next destination, the dream began: Let’s bring Harriet “home” with our own statue that could live permanently in the place of her birth. The decision was made to commission the same artist, Wesley Wofford, to create a new design that would speak to her roots in Dorchester County.

After two years of community grassroots efforts, research, community planning, the sculpture was installed at the Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge, Stop #3 on the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. The location is meaningful, as the courthouse was once the site of slave auctions – and was the site of the first escape that Tubman engineered for her niece Kessiah Bowley.

During the dedication ceremony, artist Wesley Wofford spoke about some of the meaning behind the sculpture. “The entire project was very community driven… what we wanted to talk about was, what is the origin story of Harriet Tubman,” he said. “The base (of the statue) represents the hundreds of thousands of lives adversely affected (by slavery). The shackles at the base represent all those lives.” He went on to explain, while pointing first to the woman depicted in the sculpture, and then at the young girl: “This is Harriet Tubman, and this is Araminta Ross (Tubman’s name when she was a child)…” When she was a girl, Araminta was accidentally hit in the head with a two-pound weight by an overseer aiming for an enslaved boy at the Bucktown General Store (Stop #17 on the Tubman Byway). She nearly died, and suffered from seizures and visions the rest of her life. “Harriet talked about that event turning her into Harriet Tubman and giving her the visions that helped her along her path,” Wofford said. “This (statue) is her first vision – of her future self…. Her future self is handing a generational key to her… She is giving her the strength to say this is the strong woman you need to become, because you’re going to need me now – and 200 years from now they’re still going to need us. So reach within yourself and become that woman.”

Wofford also talked about how Tubman used the North Star to navigate out of Dorchester County, from slavery to freedom. “She later became that North Star for all of us to continue to emulate and follow. Her hand (in the sculpture) is a compass rose. it’s facing true north.”

Cambridge is now home to two major pieces of public art dedicated to Harriet Tubman: “Beacon of Hope” and “Take My Hand,” a mural by local artist Michael Rosato that went viral in 2019 and has attracted visitors from around the world. Learn more about Take My Hand, located on the side of the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center.

Things to know:

  • If you’d like to see the sculpture in person, it’s located at the Dorchester County Courthouse, Stop #3 along the Harriet Tubman Byway, 206 High St., Cambridge, Maryland.
  • Listen to the artist Wesley Wofford speak about the sculpture during the dedication, starting at 1:05:20.
  • There’s still time to donate or to sign up for a custom brick in the plaza where the statue is located. Find out more.
  • Make a visit to the statue part of a bigger road trip to the places where Tubman and other freedom seekers lived, toiled, worshipped, and escaped. Info and free resources at HarrietTubmanByway.org.

Photos here from the dedication weekend are by Jill Jasuta for Alpha Genesis CDC.

 

New ‘Beacon of Hope’ Harriet Tubman statue finds permanent home in her homeland2023-03-15T11:02:52-04:00
15 12, 2021

Welcome to the Harriet Tubman bicentennial year!

2022-07-29T17:05:13-04:00

The world is honoring Harriet Tubman throughout 2022, marking 200 years since her birth in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. People from far and wide will be sharing and reflecting on her remarkable story. For more than 25 years, Tubman was trapped in the bonds of slavery before escaping – and then returning to Maryland time and again, risking her life to lead her family and friends to freedom. She went on to work as a scout, spy, and nurse in the Civil War. Later, she was part of the suffrage movement. And throughout her life, she was a humanitarian, always thinking of and doing for others.

It was here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that she grew up in a hard life of slavery. It was here she learned important outdoor skills, from navigation to foraging for food. It was here that she loved her family so much that when she escaped to freedom by herself in 1849, she found it wasn’t the same without them. And it was here that she returned, risking her life more than a dozen times to lead her loved ones on dangerous journeys out of slavery. She went on to blaze new trails in the Civil War (as the first U.S. woman to lead an armed military raid), in the suffrage movement, in humanitarian causes, and more. In short, her life was remarkable and still offers lessons for us today.

There are events along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway commemorating her bicentennial, including the installation of a new sculpture of Tubman at the Dorchester Courthouse in Cambridge, Maryland on September 10, 2022. Learn more about bicentennial events.

Of course, you don’t have to wait for an event to learn more about Tubman’s life. This year is a great time to experience the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, with 45 sites in Dorchester and Caroline Counties, as well as Delaware and Pennsylvania. The byway visitors we hear from talk about how inspiring it is to learn about her life, her courage, her selflessness.

For the latest in “Tubman 200” news, follow the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway on Facebook and Twitter.

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority MHAA

TUBMAN 200

Honoring a Hero in 2022
Bicentennial Events
Submit Byway Event
New Tubman Sculpture
Welcome to the Harriet Tubman bicentennial year!2022-07-29T17:05:13-04:00
8 12, 2021

Join the campaign for new Harriet Tubman sculpture along the byway

2021-12-10T18:14:06-05:00

A dramatic new sculpture of Harriet Tubman – “The Beacon of Hope” – is planned for a site along the Tubman Byway. Inspired by Harriet Tubman and her daring journeys to freedom on the Underground Railroad, Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation (AGCDC) has been raising money for the Harriet’s Journey Home project.

The campaign seeks to raise $250,000 to commission, purchase and permanently install a 12-foot bronze statue of Harriet Tubman (created by Wesley Wofford Sculpture Studio) at the Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge, MD – Stop #3 along the byway, and a former site of slave auctions. It’s also the site of the first escape engineered by Tubman, which ended up freeing her niece Kessiah and her children.

Find out more about the campaign and donate here.

Join the campaign for new Harriet Tubman sculpture along the byway2021-12-10T18:14:06-05:00
18 10, 2021

New book explores landscape of Harriet Tubman’s early life

2021-10-18T10:03:12-04:00

Join in the book launch and signing for A Guide to Harriet Tubman’s Eastern Shore at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 on the Tubman Byway) on Oct. 23 from 2 to 4pm. Created by Phillip Hesser and Charlie Ewers, this new book explores Tubman’s time here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore through narrative, old and modern-day photos, and testimonials from people with connections to Tubman’s native land. (Tubman was born here and lived here through her mid-20s.)

The authors will talk about their search through landscapes and memory for Tubman’s home in Dorchester County and how it testifies to our own search for home in the changing lands and common ground in the turbulent world of the 21st century. The book will be available for purchase in the visitor center’s park store.

The Tubman Visitor Center is located at 4068 Golden Hill Rd, Church Creek, MD 21622.

>> Read more in this news story from the Talbot Spy.

New book explores landscape of Harriet Tubman’s early life2021-10-18T10:03:12-04:00
5 10, 2021

Walkers take on 100+ miles along the Tubman Byway

2021-10-05T10:37:03-04:00

On Oct. 1, a long journey along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway begins! The walk is like the one last year led by Linda Harris – starting in Cambridge, Maryland and ending some 116 miles later in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – similar to the path freedom seekers took in the 1800s. This year, Linda and 15 others will be using some modes of transportation that Tubman herself used when she led her missions to freedom – foot, boat, and carriage. The group will also be raising money for the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, Maryland (Stop #5 on the Tubman Byway).
>> Follow the walkers on the We Walk With Harriet Facebook page.
>> Donate to the cause.

Walkers take on 100+ miles along the Tubman Byway2021-10-05T10:37:03-04:00
30 08, 2021

Bike the Underground Railroad on Oct. 16, 2021 – Benefit for Harriet Tubman Sculpture

2022-02-11T10:32:45-05:00

Inspired by Harriet Tubman and her daring journeys to freedom on the Underground Railroad, Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation (AGCDC) has announced a new adult bike ride in October 2021 in Dorchester County, Maryland to raise money for the Harriet’s Journey Home project.

The Bike the UGRR ride will be held October 16 and will take riders along and near the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Participants can choose either a 25-mile or 43-mile ride. Both will provide opportunities to stop at significant landmarks and sites along the byway in Dorchester County to learn more about their historical significance. The ride begins at Cambridge South Dorchester High School, 2475 Cambridge Beltway, Cambridge, MD.

Money raised from the event will support the Harriet’s Journey Home project, which seeks to raise $250,000 to commission, purchase and permanently install a 12-foot bronze statue of Harriet Tubman (created by Wesley Wofford Sculpture Studio) at the Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge, MD – Stop #3 along the byway, and a former site of slave auctions.

The cost is $60 per rider. Find more info and sign up.

Bike the Underground Railroad on Oct. 16, 2021 – Benefit for Harriet Tubman Sculpture2022-02-11T10:32:45-05:00
29 08, 2021

Emancipation Day Celebration Sept. 19 at Tubman Visitor Center

2021-09-21T10:23:46-04:00

To mark the day that Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in Maryland on Sept. 17, 1849, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center hosts an Emancipation Day celebration for all ages on Sept. 19, 2021.

Go birding with Ranger Lawson, learn about Underground Railroad routes with Ranger Tim, enjoy traditional children’s games in the Legacy Garden with Ranger Cierra, meet acclaimed storyteller Janice Curtis Greene as she brings Harriet Tubman to life, and see the artifacts unearthed by archaeologists at the home of Harriet’s father, Ben Ross. The Junior Ranger activity will also be available throughout the day!

See the Emancipation Day Celebration flier for the full schedule and details.

Free admission; donations are welcome.

The Tubman Visitor Center is Stop #13 along the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, so you can make a day of it by exploring some of the more than 30 other stops in the area. See map and description of other stops.

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622

Emancipation Day Celebration Sept. 19 at Tubman Visitor Center2021-09-21T10:23:46-04:00
28 08, 2021

Day of Resilience is Sept. 11-12

2021-09-07T10:06:07-04:00

The Third Annual Day of Resilience on Sept. 11-12 in Cambridge, Maryland, will commemorate the theme, “Honoring our Ancestors by Reconnecting with Our Roots,” and feature Ambassador Sidique Wai of Sierra Leone as the keynote speaker during a Town Hall Meeting on Africa. The event happens along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

The Day of Resilience was first held in 2019 in Cambridge to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. That event received gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional citations and received the Outstanding Heritage Project Award from the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area. In 2020, the observance was highlighted by the unveiling of a traveling sculpture of Harriet Tubman at the Dorchester Courthouse.

Each Day of Resilience has built on the previous year’s event. This year’s commemoration also marks one year until a new, permanent Harriet Tubman sculpture is installed at the Dorchester County Courthouse, a place where enslaved ancestors were auctioned and Tubman’s niece was rescued. Next year is the bicentennial celebration of Tubman’s birth, and the statue will be installed at the Dorchester County courthouse to mark that milestone. A fundraising campaign, Harriet’s Journey Home, seeks to raise $250,000 to commission and install the 12-foot bronze statue. To date, there has been $140,000 raised in donations and grants.

On Saturday, Global Sustainable Partnerships will sponsor free health screenings for COVID, diabetes and HIV. Habitat for Humanity will host a community visioning session for the revitalization of the Harriet Tubman mural viewing area. Vendors will be in Cannery Way throughout Saturday. There will be an outdoor fashion show at the Black Lives Matter Mural by Sierra Leone fashion designer Fatamata Koroma, followed by Jazz at the Harriet Tubman “Take My Hand” Mural with artist Reggie Upshaw. For those who would like an extended stay, there will be a bus tour of Underground Railroad sites on Sunday, Sept. 12., followed by a gospel /jazz brunch featuring Suzette Pritchett at the Harriet Tubman Mural in the afternoon.

Saturday, September 11
10:30 a.m. – Meet at courthouse (206 High St., ) then walk to water for commemoration and libations at the water (Long Wharf fishing pier, High and Water Streets)
11:30 a.m. – Processional up High Street to the Dorchester County Courthouse, 206 High St.
Noon – Day of Resilience Ceremony- Dorchester County Courthouse
1:15 p.m. – Lunch on your own at Cannery Way (vendors in Cannery Way; 400 block of Race St.); box lunches for dignitaries at Harriet Tubman Museum.
1:15 p.m. – Community input on Cannery Way improvements (Habitat for Humanity)
1:15 p.m. – Art show opening, Death or Liberty by Artist Sydnie Smith-Jordon, 420 Race St., rear building
2:30 p.m. – Constituency for Africa Town Hall Meeting on Africa with Ambassador Sidique Wai of Sierra Leone
5:30 p.m. – Fashion Show at the Black Lives Matter Mural (400 Block Race Street)
7 p.m. – Jazz at the Harriet Tubman Mural (400 block of Race St.) with Reggie Upshaw
9 p.m. – Artist Reception, Death or Liberty, and After Party at the Art Bar 2.0, 420 Race St., rear building
11 p.m. – End of the Day

Sunday, September 12
11 a.m. Underground Railroad Tour with Harriet Tubman Tours
1:30 p.m. – Gospel/Jazz Brunch at the Harriet Tubman Mural (400 block of Race St.), featuring Suzette Pritchard. $50 per person. Buy tickets.
4 p.m. – End of Day

For more information about the Day of Resilience or how to contribute to the Harriet Tubman Sculpture fundraiser, visit the Alpha Genesis website 

Day of Resilience is Sept. 11-122021-09-07T10:06:07-04:00
27 08, 2021

Events celebrate September as International Underground Railroad Month

2022-02-03T11:29:04-05:00

Photo by Christyl O’Flaherty; with second photographer Tchanavia Lastie and third photographer Aaron Searcy

September is International Underground Railroad Month here in Maryland! The month acknowledges the significance of the Underground Railroad, and all those involved, for its contribution to the eradication of slavery in the United States and as a cornerstone for a more comprehensive civil rights movement that followed. September also marks the self liberation of two of Maryland’s freedom fighters, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.

This is the third year that Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared September as International Underground Railroad Month, recognizing the state as the “most powerful Underground Railroad storytelling destination in the world.” It’s also the month when Harriet Tubman made her first attempt to escape slavery (Sept. 17) and when Frederick Douglass self-liberated himself in Baltimore (Sept. 3). One way to mark the month is to take the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. This self-guided, scenic driving tour includes more than 30 sites, many of them with outdoor markers or interpretive signs that share the story of that place.

“Maryland’s Underground Railroad had so many inspirational freedom seekers whose stories can be explored today through unique attractions, historical sites, and programming,” said Gov. Hogan. “While Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass are two well-known freedom fighters, International Underground Railroad Month honors all the brave men, women, and children who fought for freedom.”

Here are some of the events happening along the Tubman Byway this month:

Day of Resilience

The Third Annual Day of Resilience on Sept. 11-12 in Cambridge, Maryland, will commemorate the theme, “Honoring our Ancestors by Reconnecting with Our Roots,” and will feature Ambassador Sidique Wai of Sierra Leone as the keynote speaker during a Town Hall Meeting on Africa. The event happens along the Harriet Tubman Byway. There’s a fashion show, live music, and more. Details

Emancipation Day at the Tubman Visitor Center

Honor Harriet Tubman’s self-emancipation on Sept. 19 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway). The day includes birding, storytelling, talks on the Underground Railroad and the archaeology of the Ben Ross homesite, family fun, Junior Ranger activities, and more. 10am-3pm.

Tours of the byway by boat, kayak, and on foot

In celebration of Underground Railroad Month, Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends are partnering with local outfitters to explore the Tubman Byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Southern Delaware by boat, kayak and on foot. September is also a great month for experiencing fall migration, so the birding on these trips should be spectacular. Check out the tours happening on Sept. 10, Sept. 15, Sept. 16, and Sept. 30. Get details and sign up before they sell out.

Walking tour of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge

Join a walking tour that will share the importance of two visits Frederick Douglass made to Cambridge, Maryland in 1877 and 1878. The tour will start at Long Wharf and conclude on Pine Street in front of Bethel AME Church. There are two tours set for Sept. 4: 10am to 12pm and 1:30 to 3:30pm. Details

A Walk in the Woods at Peter’s Neck

Enjoy a guided two-mile walk in the woods through the Peter’s Neck district, near the homesite of Ben Ross, Harriet Tubman’s father on Sunday, Sept. 26. Discover what life was like for the communities that helped raise Harriet Tubman.

Participants will meet at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (4068 Golden Hill Rd, Church Creek, MD 21622) at 1pm and will be shuttled to Peter’s Neck, within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Please bring a mask for the shuttle ride. Participants are also encouraged to wear boots and bring bug spray and bottled water.

To register for this inaugural program, contact Ranger Cierra at 410-221-2290 ext. 1144. Registration is required and space is limited.

 

NOTE: The amazing photo above (yes, it’s a photo!) is a re-enactment inspired by the “Harriet” movie. It was spearheaded by photographer Christyl O’Flaherty, along with second photographer Tchanavia Lastie and third photographer Aaron Searcy. Learn more about this powerful photo series.

Events celebrate September as International Underground Railroad Month2022-02-03T11:29:04-05:00
20 07, 2021

Harriet Tubman park rangers pick their driving tour favorites

2021-09-07T10:04:40-04:00

By Adam Larson

Nearly 200 years ago, an American hero named Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester County, Maryland. An Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, suffragist, veteran, and small business owner, Tubman overcame arduous odds to accomplish great feats. Today, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway follows in her footsteps from her home in Dorchester County to freedom in Philadelphia. There are 45 sites to explore in total, and nearly half of the byway’s sites are in Dorchester County. As rangers at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park, we’ve picked out some of our favorite sites to visit.

Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center (Site #5)

Harriet Tubman Mural, by Michael RosatoOperated by the non-profit Harriet Tubman Organization, the volunteer-run Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center preserves artifacts, organizes events, and teaches visitors about Tubman’s continuing importance in the area she grew up in. Inside the museum are exhibits and a gift shop, and outside is a mural of Harriet Tubman reaching out to the viewer that went viral in 2019.

“It’s nice to have a partner in interpretation, and I’m glad that so many visitors get to visit both the museum and the visitor center and get a well-rounded view of Tubman’s story,” said Seasonal Ranger Laurel Pogue. “All of the volunteers are knowledgeable and welcoming, and help make the museum a great experience.”

 

Joseph Stewart’s Canal/Parsons Creek (Site #10)

Stewart's CanalFor more than two decades, enslaved and free Blacks toiled perilously to dig Stewart’s Canal, which connected the timbering and agricultural areas around the Blackwater River to the Little Blackwater River, the shipyards in Madison Bay, and destinations across the Chesapeake Bay. The seven-mile canal is still visible today, over two hundred years after work on the canal began.

“The canal holds a dark history of slavery, but despite this, the sunsets over it remain breathtaking,” said Assistant Park Manager Chaney Dale.

 

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center (Site #13)

Inside the Harriet Tubman Visitor CenterOpened in 2017, the Tubman Visitor Center‘s exhibits reveal the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, with a focus on her early life here on the Eastern Shore. The exhibits are complemented with a theater, a park store, and our Legacy Garden that surrounds the Visitor Center.

“The Visitor Center offers guests an immersive and emotive experience, creating connections between modern day travelers and the 19th century. Our exhibits provide a strong foundation for exploring more of Tubman Country,” said Park Manager Dana Paterra.

 

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Site #14)

Established to protect prime habitat for migratory birds, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge also protects the natural environment as it was when Harriet Tubman lived in Dorchester. The refuge’s Wildlife Drive takes visitors past a mixture of forest, swamp, and open water that have characterized southern Dorchester County for centuries.

“I love seeing the variety and sheer number of birds at Blackwater,” said Seasonal Ranger Adam Larson. “The bald eagles are there year-round, and from winter to summer you can watch as the huge flocks of geese are replaced by osprey nesting on platforms.”

 

Bucktown General Store (Site #17)

When Harriet Tubman was about 12 years old, she went to the Bucktown General Store on an errand. An enslaved man had entered the store without permission from his slaveholder, and an overseer had followed him there. The overseer told Tubman to restrain the enslaved man, but she refused. The overseer then took a weight and hurled it at the enslaved man, but missed and struck Tubman in the head. The near-fatal injury caused her to have vivid visions for the rest of her life that she believed were sent by God.

“You can visit the site where Harriet demonstrated her first act of defiance, and while her injury was physically devastating, it was spiritually awakening,” said Park Ranger Cierra Maszkiewicz.

 

Faith Community United Methodist Church (Site #21)

Churches were a cornerstone of the free and enslaved Black community, where preachers shared a vital message of empowerment and hope. Underground Railroad conductor Reverend Sam Green was one of the original trustees of Faith Community United Methodist Church, a congregation that still worships today.

“Faith Community Church is a center of the community where everybody meets and greets each other in a historically important congregation,” said Seasonal Ranger Mary Dennard. “We are a people that remember where we came from. We are products of the past.”

Harriet Tubman park rangers pick their driving tour favorites2021-09-07T10:04:40-04:00
11 02, 2021

Birding the Tubman Byway

2021-09-07T10:06:47-04:00

Join Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends as they go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Dorchester County, Maryland. During this guided, self-driven tour, learn about the life and times of the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. The route courses through the farms and Chesapeake Bay marshes of Dorchester County, home to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and some of the best birding and Bald Eagle watching on America’s Eastern Seaboard.

The same birds that Harriet Tubman would have known more than 170 years ago still inhabit the fields, forests and marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Bald Eagles can be observed year-round, and active nests are visible during the winter and spring. During autumn and winter months, you can discover ducks, geese, swans and raptors.

Choose from among these upcoming tours; each tour runs from 1 to 5pm:

  • February 25, 2021
  • March 11, 2021
  • March 25, 2021
  • April 3, 2021
  • April 15, 2021

Cost is $65/person. Find out more and reserve your spot.

Meeting location: small roadside pull-off at the Brodess Farm Site, located near 2881 Greenbrier Road, Bucktown, MD 21613. The GPS Coordinates are: 38.459031,-76.048522.

Harriet Tubman used bird calls as secret signals during her missions to freedom. Read more on this in Audubon magazine and listen to a brief segment from Living on Earth.

Birding the Tubman Byway2021-09-07T10:06:47-04:00
1 02, 2021

Virtual reality experiences bring powerful stories to life

2021-09-07T10:07:08-04:00

Just in time for Black History Month, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway has been updated with new augmented reality and virtual reality experiences that bring to life the powerful stories connected to four of the sites. With the free audio guide, you can embark on this dramatic tour along the byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, exploring landscapes that Tubman knew as an enslaved woman and from which she fled as a young woman. The new AR/VR experiences are as follows:

Bucktown Crossroads

See the intersection at 4303 Bucktown Road, Bucktown, transform to what it might have looked like as a bustling crossroads in the mid-1800s. If you do a 360 spin with your phone at the site, you will see the store, blacksmith shop, barns and houses, as well as farm animals and people in the scene.

There are four people who are clickable. Each tells his or her own story. They represent the people from all walks of life who frequented these Bucktown crossroads: A fur trader who does not own slaves, a free black man, an enslaved woman, and a slave trader.

More about Bucktown General Store, Stop #17 along the byway.

Bayly House

Watch a hologram of a reenactor depicting Lizzie Amby, who was enslaved at the Bayly house and escaped from slavery through Harriet Tubman’s network. She shares her hopes, dreams and fears as she plans her escape. The Bayly house, at 207 High Street, Cambridge, is a private residence but can be viewed from the sidewalk.

A new stop on the Byway, the Bayly House will be getting one of the iconic, three-sided Byway markers later this month. It is know that Alexander Bayly did own slaves and advertised in the local newspaper for Lizzy Amby’s return after her escape.

The Bayly House, a private residence, is located at 207 High St. in Cambridge, Maryland.

The new AR/VR experience at the Stanley Institute features Harriet Tubman organizing an escape.

Stanley Institute

Watch as Harriet Tubman recounts her plans to help two groups escape from nearby plantations. The Stanley Institute site on MD Route 16 in Cambridge transforms to what it would have looked like in the mid-1800s during a nighttime escape, and an actress portraying Harriet dramatically impresses upon you the extreme risks and danger that await.

She describes their determination and provides details that include the numbers of children, family members who had to be left behind and even how they had to deal with especially horrid weather the night of the escape. She uses Harriet’s own words to help you understand Harriet’s own unwavering commitment to assisting others on their journey north to freedom.

More about Stanley Institute, Stop #6 along the byway.

Leverton House

Although you cannot go up to the privately owned house at 3531 Seaman Road in Preston, from the end of the drive, you can use the app to see what the Leverton house would have looked like in the 1800s. An actor portraying Arthur Leverton describes the perils of his family’s efforts to help freedom seekers head north.

His story shows how assisting enslaved people with their right to freedom also came with a high price for the abolitionists. The Levertons and their neighbor and fellow Underground Railroad conductor, Daniel Hubbard, a free black farmer, were forced to flee Maryland for their own safety because of their efforts helping others.

More about Leverton House, Stop #22 along the byway.

Collaboration & Research

What is noteworthy about these new experiences is the crossover and connection with other Harriet Tubman stories told in Dorchester County, said Julie Gilberto-Brady, manager of the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area.

“We used pictures of people in the documentary shown at the Harriet Tubman State Park, and we borrowed costumes used in their film,” Gilberto-Brady said. “We also have the same actress portraying Harriet Tubman.”

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway was designated as one of the best driving tours in the nation in 2009 by the Federal Highway Administration for its scenic beauty and significant history. In addition to recounting Harriet Tubman’s remarkable life story, the Byway reveals the story of slavery and the pursuit of freedom on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It weaves through a rare landscape, virtually unaltered for more than a century.

The new experiences were made possible, in part, with funding from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. The AR/VR content was developed by TimeLooper. Collaborators included Dorchester County Tourism, the Harriet Tubman Museum, Harriet Tubman State Park and Visitor Center, Friends of Stanley Institute, Caroline County Historical Society, Historian Kate Larson and the Bucktown Village Foundation.

Download the free app from the iPhone App or Google Play stores. Search for “Harriet Tubman Byway.” If you already have the audio guide on your cell phone, you will need to delete it and reinstall the updated version with the new experiences.

Virtual reality experiences bring powerful stories to life2021-09-07T10:07:08-04:00
22 12, 2020

Christmas Eve Walk commemorates escape

2021-09-07T10:07:28-04:00

The organization Camp Harriet is hosting a special Christmas Eve walk to commemorate the Christmas Escape of 1854, when Harriet Tubman returned from freedom to Maryland to lead her brothers Ben, Robert, and Henry out of slavery. The 15-mile walk will begin at 3pm on Dec. 24 at Faith Community United Methodist Church (Stop #21 on the Tubman Byway) in East New Market, Maryland. All are welcome. The group will walk to the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center (Stop #5) at 420 Race Street in Cambridge, Maryland.

>> Watch this news segment from 47 ABC.

>> For the latest updates, check the We Walk With Harriet Facebook page.

Christmas Eve Walk commemorates escape2021-09-07T10:07:28-04:00
9 11, 2020

Tubman Visitor Center, Museum re-open to public

2021-09-07T10:07:51-04:00

The Harriet Tubman Underground Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD, and the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center in Cambridge, MD, have both re-opened to the public. They had been temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tubman Visitor Center (Stop #13 on the Tubman Byway) currently has limited hours (10am-4pm, Thursday-Sunday) and advance reservations are required (reserve here). Masks are required for everyone over age 5. Admission is still free. The Tubman Museum & Educational Center (Stop #5 on the Tubman Byway), home to the “Take My Hand” mural, is open Tuesday-Friday, 12-3pm and Saturday 12-4pm; but it’s best to call first at 410-228-0401. Bucktown General Store remains temporarily closed. Several other of the 30+ sites along the Tubman Byway in Maryland are still accessible, as they are outdoor sites with signage. Learn more at HarrietTubmanByway.org.

Tubman Visitor Center, Museum re-open to public2021-09-07T10:07:51-04:00
2 10, 2020

Harriet Tubman statue on display through Oct. 11 in Cambridge, MD

2020-10-02T19:01:40-04:00

The Harriet Tubman statue created by the Wesley Wofford Sculpture Studio remains on display at the courthouse in Cambridge, Maryland, through Oct. 11. The 9-foot, 2,400-pound bronze sculpture, “Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom,” is temporarily installed at the Dorchester County Courthouse at 206 High Street. There is talk of raising funds to bring a permanent sculpture to the area; watch for the latest on the Tubman Byway Facebook page.

The sculpture, “Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom,” depicts Tubman confidently leading a slave girl on the Underground Railroad to freedom. Wofford, the creator of the statue, said, “There is a lot of embedded symbolism within the narrative of the piece. The contours of the base represent the Maryland/Delaware Peninsula, where Harriet was enslaved, eventually escaped, and continued to return for her freedom raids. The dramatic step up/cut is the Pennsylvania state line, and they are stepping out of the slave states to an elevated freedom. The dress is enveloping the young girl, billowing protectively like a flag, and is meant to represent all the legal protections afforded every United States citizen-a symbol of the future equality to come. Each hand on the sculpture signifies an attribute: Determination, Protection, Fear, and Trust. The slave girl is leaning out to get a better look at where Harriet is taking her with a look of trepidation on her face. She is gripping Harriet’s right arm tightly but her delicate finger grasp is cautiously hopeful. The girl is off balance and tentatively taking a step forward-her left foot precariously hanging off a cliff, illustrating the danger and peril of the journey. The shackles are broken and the atrocities of slavery are left forever behind.”

Harriet Tubman statue on display through Oct. 11 in Cambridge, MD2020-10-02T19:01:40-04:00
1 10, 2020

Their 116-mile walk along Tubman Byway may be only the beginning

2020-10-02T19:01:01-04:00

A group of seven women calling themselves “We Walk With Harriet” completed their 116-mile walk along portions of the Tubman Byway in September, walking from Cambridge, Maryland to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. We Walk With Harriet also raised money for two stops along the byway. In late September, they presented a $2,500 check to the volunteer-run Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (Stop #4) and a $2,000 check to the Stanley Institute (Stop #6). But there’s more. Plans are in the works for Camp Harriet in Dorchester County, Maryalnd (Tubman’s birthplace)which would focus on wellness, history, and more. There are also plans for another walk in October 2021, this time from Kennett Square to Cambridge.
>> Keep up with the latest on the We Walk With Harriet Facebook page.
>> Watch the music video “Walk to Freedom,” created by the group’s leader, Linda Harris.

Their 116-mile walk along Tubman Byway may be only the beginning2020-10-02T19:01:01-04:00
7 08, 2020

Take the Tubman Byway Visitor Survey

2020-09-07T11:20:25-04:00

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, Dorchester County Tourism, and additional partners are teaming up to understand how visitors use the 125-mile scenic Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Each year people travel from all over the globe to learn about and appreciate the experiences of Harriet Tubman’s life efforts, and the results of this work will show the impact on the area through added tourism dollars and additional community impacts.

Have you visited the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a scenic drive with over 30 historical stops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? If yes, then we want to hear from you! Please take the survey found here so we can better understand your experience.

We sincerely appreciate your participation!

Take the Tubman Byway Visitor Survey2020-09-07T11:20:25-04:00
12 01, 2020

Black History Month events at Tubman Visitor Center

2020-01-28T08:20:08-05:00

In celebration of Black History Month, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway) invites everyone to free, family-friendly programs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in February.

The park, located in Church Creek on Maryland’s Eastern Shore – not far from where Harriet Tubman lived and toiled – is open daily from 9am to 5pm and houses an exhibit hall, immersive displays, a gift store and an information desk. Throughout the month, the park’s expert staff will lead special programs to honor the life and legacy of Maryland native Harriet Tubman and the struggle for freedom that she embodied.

All events listed below are free of charge. Admission to the visitor center is also free. There is a lot more African-American history and to be explored and several other Black History Month events happening in Dorchester County, Maryland. See the full round-up.

Fridays – Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28:

  • Introduction – 10am, noon and 4pm. Enjoy a ranger-led introduction highlighting the symbolism of the park and visitor center.
  • The Preponderance of Poverty – 2pm. Poverty has been a strain on the lives of most humans throughout history. In this program. Join Ranger Nwakudo to better understand what causes this burden and what can be done about it.

Saturdays – Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29:

  • Mancala! Mancala! Mancala! takes place at 11am. Join rangers and learn how to play the board game Mancala! It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. Bring a smile and creativity and create your own game board.
  • Raptors & Reptiles of Dorchester County at 2pm (February 15 and 29 only). Since Tubman’s time in Dorchester County, the landscape has remained relatively unchanged. Join Ranger Maszkiewicz and Maryland Park Service’s Scales & Tales for a lesson on the natural landscape and native wildlife of Tubman’s time.

Sundays – Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23:

  • Story Time with Mama Mary – 11am. Explore the concept of self-liberation through engaging storytelling and self-reflection with Ranger “Mama Mary” Dennard. Enjoy a moment of meditation and recognition of privileges taken for granted. After being a part of Ranger Dennard’s presentation, we hope you will have an awareness of how far society has come and how far we still have to go.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, soon to begin its fourth year of operation, has hosted hundreds of thousands of visitors from more than 70 countries and territories and all 50 states. This state-of-the-art, green facility is managed in partnership with the National Park Service.

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD

Black History Month events at Tubman Visitor Center2020-01-28T08:20:08-05:00
27 10, 2019

Watch “Harriet,” then experience her homeland

2019-11-06T10:47:30-05:00

Have you watched the “Harriet” movie, and now you’re eager to know more about this fearless Underground Railroad hero? One way is to come to Tubman Country on Maryland’s Eastern Shore — the place where Harriet lived the first 25+ years of her life in slavery. Where she forged strong bonds with family. Where she toiled and learned the crucial outdoor skills that helped her escape. Where she started her many missions to freedom. Here you can experience the real (but still remarkable) story, without any Hollywood influence.

Watch the movie and then walk in her footsteps to some of the places mentioned in the film by taking the road trip we call the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which includes more than 30 sites related to Harriet Tubman and/or the Underground Railroad in Dorchester County and Caroline  County, Maryland. The sites include Bucktown General Store, where Harriet suffered a head injury that caused visions and sleeping spells the rest of her life; Brodess Farm, where she lived as a young child; the grassroots-formed Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (home of the famed Harriet Tubman Mural, which went viral earlier this year); Choptank Landing, where Harriet led her most daring rescues; and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, which offers a comprehensive look at all she achieved during her 90+ years.

If you’d like to watch the “Harriet” movie here in Tubman Country, it’s playing at Cambridge Premier Cinemas, located right along the Tubman Byway. See the schedule and buy tickets directly through the theater — click on the date and then click on the movie time to buy tickets. We recommend buying tickets in advance. The theater is located at 2759 Dorchester Square, Cambridge, MD 21613, along Route 50 in the shopping center with Walmart. Watch the “Harriet” trailer.

 

Watch “Harriet,” then experience her homeland2019-11-06T10:47:30-05:00
21 10, 2019

Talks on waterways and the UGRR in Oct. and Nov.

2020-06-26T11:56:38-04:00
Rivers, creeks, bays, and other waterways played an important role on the Underground Railroad, providing a means of escape and a communications network among Black sailors and enslaved people. Learn more at four upcoming talks planned in conjunction with Water/Ways, a traveling exhibit that the Smithsonian is bringing to Cambridge, right along the Tubman Byway, which is a road trip to 30+ places related to Harriet Tubman or the Underground Railroad.

Chesapeake Underground: Charting a Course Toward Freedom

Oct. 19, Nov. 2 and Nov. 23
Vince Leggett, founder of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, will present “Chesapeake Underground: Charting a Course Toward Freedom.” He will highlight how Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and other men and women’s lives were shaped by the rivers, creeks and tributaries in this region. He’ll give the talk three times:
  • 2pm on Oct. 19 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway), 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church  Creek, MD.
  • 2pm on Nov. 2 at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center (Stop #5 along the Tubman Byway), 424 Race St., Cambridge, MD
  • 1pm on Nov. 23 at the Dorchester Center for the Arts, 321 High St. in Cambridge, MD. This is also the site of the Water/Ways exhibit.

The Underground Railroad in Dorchester County: Community & Communication on the Water

Oct. 26 and Nov. 9
Join Ranger Angela Crenshaw and learn about the important role that water, communication and community played on the Underground Railroad in Maryland and participate in a lively discussion and family-friendly activity. The program will be held two times:
  • 2pm on Oct. 26 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (in Church Creek, MD, Stop #13 along the byway),  4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church  Creek, MD.
  • 2pm on Nov. 9 at the Water/Ways exhibit at the Dorchester Center for the Arts, 321 High St. in Cambridge, MD. This is also the site of the Water/Ways exhibit.
>>For more about the Water/Ways exhibit, go to VisitDorchester.org/WaterWays.
>>Photo here by Kate Clifford Larson.
Talks on waterways and the UGRR in Oct. and Nov.2020-06-26T11:56:38-04:00
15 10, 2019

Frederick Douglass walking tours Oct. 19, 20

2019-10-15T13:16:58-04:00

Learn more about abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass and his connections to Maryland’s Eastern Shore during walking tours on Oct. 19 and 20. The tours include several stops that are part of the Harriet Tubman Byway.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

Take a closer look at the lost local history of the Shore through modern and antiquarian perspectives on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9am to 2pm with local walking tours which include the Dorchester and Caroline County court houses, Long Wharf, Denton Steamboat Wharf, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Waugh Chapel in Cambridge.

The tour of Cambridge will include visit to Harriet Tubman Mural at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center at 424 Race Street downtown.

Tour will include walking tour of Cambridge followed by bus transportation to Denton for a walking tour. Bus will return to Cambridge where late lunch at Snapper’s Waterfront Cafe is voluntary.

Learn connections that Frederick Douglass maintained to communities in Cambridge and Denton throughout his entire life from Wye House playmate Daniel Lloyd to the centuries-long sustained friendship of the Douglass (Bailey) Family to the Waymans of Caroline County to Bishop John Fletcher Hurst, founder of American University, to Rev. Henry Augustus Monroe, drummer boy for the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

Start the day at the Heritage Museums & Gardens of Dorchester, 1003 Greenway Dr. in Cambridge, MD. Free parking is available on site.

Total walking is 3 to 4 miles. Not recommended for individuals with mobility issues. Bus will seat total of 15. Waiting list will be generated in event of sellout. Group rates may apply. Rain or shine.

Tickets cost $50 per person. Find details and buy tickets.

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

Following the successful presentation of “Lost History: Frederick Douglass in Caroline County” this past February at the Denton Library, local historian John Muller returns to town to offer a unique walking tour for students and seniors alike interested in learning more.

Join local history enthusiasts and community leaders for a debut waking tour detailing a previously unknown high-profile visit Dr. Douglass made to Denton, Maryland in the fall of 1883. Arriving by train and escorted through town by a brass band from nearby Centerville, Douglass spoke at the old county courthouse in a political rally before departing by steamboat.

Learn more about the many connections Douglass had to Denton and Caroline County from his childhood and through his wife and close friends from Caroline County.

Tour will begin at the Wharves of Choptank Visitor & Heritage Center, 3 Crouse Park Lane in Denton, MD, and conclude outside of the Union Bethel AME Church in Historic Denton.

Total walking is under two miles. If inclement weather, the tour will be re-scheduled. Tickets cost $15 per person; free for students of Caroline County Public Schools. Buy tickets.

The tours will be led by John Muller, who has presented widely throughout the DC-Baltimore metropolitan area at venues including the Library of Congress, Newseum, Politics and Prose, American Library in Paris and local universities. He is currently working on a book about the lost history of Frederick Douglass on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Frederick Douglass walking tours Oct. 19, 202019-10-15T13:16:58-04:00
5 10, 2019

‘Chronicles of Adam’ comes to Tubman Country Oct. 11

2019-10-05T07:59:13-04:00

Dontavius Williams will be performing “The Chronicles of Adam,” a powerful interpretation of life as an enslaved person of the 1800s at 3pm on Oct. 11 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway) in Church Creek, Maryland, and then again at 11am and 2pm on Oct. 12 during the Nanticoke River Jamboree — a large living history event that celebrates African American, Native American, and colonial stories and culture —  between 10am and 5pm at historic Handsell near Vienna, Maryland. Watch the preview.

‘Chronicles of Adam’ comes to Tubman Country Oct. 112019-10-05T07:59:13-04:00
25 08, 2019

September is filled with Harriet Tubman and African-American history events

2019-08-28T11:37:40-04:00

There are several special events planned for September relating to Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and African-American history — all happening on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where Tubman lived for more than 25 years.

September 5, 3pm
Free concert: Sunpie Performs African spirituals

Location: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, Church Creek, MD
Enjoy a free performance by Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots on Thursday, September 5 at 3pm. Sunpie is known for performing his own style of Afro-Louisiana music that combines zydeco, blues, gospel, and Caribbean traditions. Among Sunpie’s many areas of expertise is the deep wellspring of traditional songs, African American spirituals in particular, that contained hidden meanings for enslaved Africans who dreamed of reaching freedom on the Underground Railroad. Read more.

September 7, all day
A Day of Resilience

Location: Cambridge, MD
A special daylong event that includes the dedication of the Harriet Tubman Mural, and events to reflect on the 400th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the arrival of the first Africans to be sold into bondage in North America in 1619 at Jamestown. Some events feature ambassadors from three African countries. Read more.

September 14, 10am-4pm
Emancipation Day Celebration

Location: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, Church Creek, MD
On September 17, 1849 Harriet Tubman first attempted to liberate herself from the bonds of slavery. In recognition of her courage and strength the Tubman Visitor Center is hosting a day of events including ranger-led programs, live music, and the public premiere of the Visitor Center’s new orientation film “Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom,” as well as a presentation by Tubman scholar and biographer Dr. Kate Clifford Larson. Read more.

September 20, 6:30-8pm
Talk: Frederick Douglass’s Godson, Publisher of the Eastern Shore’s Only Black Newspaper

Location: Heritage Museums & Gardens of Dorchester, Cambridge, MD
Historian and journalist John Muller gives a presentation about Frederick Douglass’s godson, Rev. Henry Augustus Monroe, who launched a newspaper in Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He also served as pastor of Waugh Chapel in Cambridge, where he became a well-respected editor, historian and community leader. Read more.

September 21, 9-10:30am
Walking Tour of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge

Location: Cambridge, MD
Did you know that Frederick Douglass was born in the next county over from where Harriet Tubman was born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Recently some interesting history about Douglass’s visits to Cambridge, MD, has been rediscovered and will be shared during a Walking Tour of some of the sites where Douglass himself walked. Read more.

September 21,   11am-12pm
Talk: African American Officers in Liberia

Location: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, Church Creek, MD
Join author and historian Brian Shellum as he discusses his latest book, African American Officers in Liberia, which tells the story of 17 African American officers who trained, reorganized, and commanded the Liberian Frontier Force from 1910-1942. This West African country was founded by freed black American slaves. Read more.

September 21, 3-4:30pm
The Harriet Tubman Experience with Millicent Sparks

Join re-enactor Millicent Sparks as she performs her interpretation of Harriet Tubman’s monumental life on Sept. 21 from 3pm to 4:30pm at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. Build a personal connection with the lady of honor! This event is free and open to the public.
Read more.

September is filled with Harriet Tubman and African-American history events2019-08-28T11:37:40-04:00
23 08, 2019

Talk: African American Officers in Liberia

2019-08-23T11:20:50-04:00

Join author and historian Brian Shellum as he discusses his latest book, African American Officers in Liberia, during a talk at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway). The book tells the story of 17 African American officers who trained, reorganized, and commanded the Liberian Frontier Force from 1910-1942. In this West African country founded by freed black American slaves, African American officers performed their duties as instruments of imperialism for a country that was, at best, ambivalent about having them serve under armies at home and abroad.

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD

Talk: African American Officers in Liberia2019-08-23T11:20:50-04:00
23 08, 2019

The Harriet Tubman Experience with Millicent Sparks

2019-08-23T11:14:21-04:00

Join re-enactor Millicent Sparks as she performs her interpretation of Harriet Tubman’s monumental life on Sept. 21 from 3pm to 4:30pm at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway). Build a personal connection with the lady of honor! This event is free and open to the public.

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD

The Harriet Tubman Experience with Millicent Sparks2019-08-23T11:14:21-04:00
23 08, 2019

Talk: Frederick Douglass’s Godson, Publisher of the Eastern Shore’s Only Black Newspaper

2019-08-23T11:12:14-04:00

In continued recognition of the lost Eastern Shore history of Dr. Frederick (Bailey) Douglass, a special presentation on Rev. Henry Augustus Monroe will be delivered Friday, September 20, 2019 at 6:30 PM at the The Heritage Museum and Gardens at Dorchester (home of the Dorchester County Historical Society) in Cambridge, Maryland.

Introductory remarks will be offered by Maryland Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes, Maryland Delegate Johnny Mautz, Shirley Jackson of the Dorchester County Historical Society and Sharon Lucas, niece of Rev. H. A. Monroe’s deceased granddaughter Honorable Winifred Monroe.

Following last fall’s presentation of “The Lost History of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge, Maryland,” at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, historian and journalist John Muller returns to Cambridge to present “Lost History: Rev. H. A. Monroe, Godson to Frederick Douglass and Publisher of The Eastern Shore’s Only Black Newspaper.”

—
Following the Civil War, the Massachusetts-born and educated Monroe was sent to Somerset County on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore to serve as an educator and supervisor for the Freedmen’s Bureau Division of Schools. After receiving a patronage position in Baltimore City, Monroe and his family returned to Somerset County where Monroe launched a newspaper and joined the ministry of the Delaware Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After serving as pastor of Waugh Chapel in Cambridge, where he became a well-respected editor, historian and community leader, Monroe respectfully declined the opportunity to serve as the first principal of the Princess Anne Academy — today the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore.

While serving as pastor for a church in New York City Monroe and a fellow delegation of ministers traveled to Washington City where they met with Frederick Douglass at the train station who escorted the group to meet with the President of the United States regarding conditions in the American South, including the Delmarva Peninsula.

Holding prominent leadership positions within the church and communities of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia, Monroe was active until his passing in 1912.

Q&A will follow the 45-minute presentation.

John Muller is the author of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C: The Lion of Anacostia (2012) and Mark Twain in Washington, D.C.: The Adventures of a Capital Correspondent (2013) and is at work on Lost History: Frederick Douglass and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Tickets cost $5 for members of the Dorchester County Historical Society; $8 non-members, free for students of Dorchester County Public Schools, Chesapeake College, Salisbury University and University of Maryland – Eastern Shore.

RSVPs are encouraged but not necessary to Ann or Mitch at dchs@verizon.net. For more information call 410.228.7953 or visit dorchesterhistory.com.

Address; 1003 Greenway Dr, Cambridge, Maryland 21613

Talk: Frederick Douglass’s Godson, Publisher of the Eastern Shore’s Only Black Newspaper2019-08-23T11:12:14-04:00
23 08, 2019

Emancipation Day Celebration is Sept. 14

2019-09-10T10:31:40-04:00

On September 17, 1849, Harriet Tubman first attempted to liberate herself from the bonds of slavery. In recognition of her courage and strength, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 on the Tubman Byway) is hosting a day of events on Sept. 14 that focus on Tubman’s strength, courage, and the importance of freedom.

The day kicks off with with ranger-led programs at 10am and 11am in the multi-purpose room. At 1pm Dorchester County native Renna McKinney performs in the outdoor pavilion, followed by remarks from special guests before the public premiere of the Visitor Center’s new orientation film “Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom” at 2pm. The day concludes with a presentation by Tubman scholar and biographer Dr. Kate Clifford Larson at 3pm. All programs and events are family-friendly and free of charge.

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek,, Maryland 21622

Emancipation Day Celebration is Sept. 142019-09-10T10:31:40-04:00
20 08, 2019

Harriet Tubman movie premieres Sept. 14 at Tubman Visitor Center

2019-08-20T09:11:32-04:00

Two films about Harriet Tubman’s life will be released this fall. The first – Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom – debuts at 2pm September 14 at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop  #13 along the Tubman Byway). The 15-minute short, featuring acclaimed actor and narrator Keith David with B. Cherie Patterson portraying Tubman, will be shown daily three times an hour to Visitor Center guests.

B. Cherie Patterson as Harriet Tubman

B. Cherie Patterson as Harriet Tubman

The real-life story traces Harriet Tubman’s formative years in Dorchester County, Maryland, and explores the decisions that shaped her life as a patriot, leader, liberator and humanitarian. The short film is a moving introduction to the park’s exhibits and programs that highlights the values that were most meaningful to Tubman: family, freedom, faith and community.

It debuts the same week that Harriet – the highly anticipated movie starring Emmy, Tony and Grammy award-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo – premieres to the world at the Toronto Film Festival. The film will be released to movie theaters across the country on November 1, including Cambridge Premier Cinemas in Cambridge, Maryland — just a few miles from where Tubman lived in slavery for more than 25 years.

Exclusive showing in Dorchester County

While millions of Harriet viewers will learn about Tubman’s remarkable life and legacy, only Soldier of Freedom was filmed and will be shown exclusively on the lands where she lived, labored and returned to free enslaved family and friends.

Keith David narrates “Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom”

“We are thrilled to premier this tribute to a great American heroine,” said Maryland Park Service Manager Dana Paterra. “Harriet Tubman: Soldier of Freedom was filmed locally in the region that shaped her early years and included local actors and businesses when possible. The movie provides a solid foundation for the visitor’s experience here at the Visitor Center and adds another opportunity to create a meaningful connection with guests and Tubman’s inspiring life.”

Dorchester County residents appearing in the film include Herschel Johnson, Keith Cornish, Mary Dennard and Jenny Baltimore.

Directed by Joshua Colover (Farther than the Eye Can See, winner of 18 international film festival awards) and produced by Aperture Films, the movie was commissioned by a partnership of the National Park Service, Maryland Park Service, State of Maryland, Eastern National and America’s Byway.

Special events complement movie premiere

The September 14 premiere includes a day of special events, ranger-led programs and  a 1 p.m. ceremony with music by Renna McKinney leading up to the film’s initial 2 p.m. showing at the Tubman Visitor Center.

Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, a Massachusetts-based historian and author of the biography, Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero, will give a presentation following the premiere. Larson served as a consultant for the movie and the recently announced MPT/Firelight Films documentary on Tubman currently in production.

“Soldier of Freedom is a heart-wrenching yet triumphant story of Harriet Tubman, the hero of this park,” Dr. Larson said. “Filmed on location here on the Eastern Shore, the film briefly shares the dramatic, difficult story of Tubman’s life as an enslaved child and adult, her pursuit of freedom on the Underground Railroad, and her determination to end slavery and bring liberty and justice to others.”

Powerful addition to Underground Railroad story

The film, according to Dorchester County Tourism Director Amanda Fenstermaker, builds on the Visitor Center’s role as a trailhead for people looking to explore the 36 sites along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

“More than 200,000 have come to the Visitor Center since its spring 2017 opening to learn about Harriet Tubman’s remarkable life and see how they can experience the landscapes where she lived and toiled,” Fenstermaker said. “The film is a significant and powerful addition to the engaging multimedia exhibitory that has made the Visitor Center one of the mid-Atlantic’s top tourism destinations.”

The Tubman Visitor Center is free and open to the public seven days a week, 9am to 5pm, and is located at 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD.

Harriet Tubman movie premieres Sept. 14 at Tubman Visitor Center2019-08-20T09:11:32-04:00
16 08, 2019

Free concert Sept. 5: Sunpie performs African spirituals

2019-08-16T14:57:11-04:00

The Maryland Park Service, National Park Service, and the National Council for the Traditional Arts are proud to offer a free performance by Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots on Thursday, September 5 at 3pm under the pavilion at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park.

Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, a former professional football player and National Park Service park ranger for 30 years, is an acclaimed accordionist, harmonica player, and researcher. Sunpie is known for performing his own style of Afro-Louisiana music that combines zydeco, blues, gospel, and Caribbean traditions. He learned accordion at the feet of some of zydeco’s most acclaimed pioneers, including Fernest Arceneaux, John Delafose, and Clayton Sampy.

Among Sunpie’s many areas of expertise is the deep wellspring of traditional songs, African American spirituals in particular, that contained hidden meanings for enslaved Africans who dreamed of reaching freedom on the Underground Railroad. Joining Sunpie will be LeRoy Etienne on drums and Michael Harris on bass.

The event is free of charge for the public and seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, Stop #13 on the Tubman Byway driving tour, is located at 4068 Golden Hill Rd, Church Creek, Maryland 21622. For more info, contact 410-221-2290.

Free concert Sept. 5: Sunpie performs African spirituals2019-08-16T14:57:11-04:00
25 07, 2019

“Harriet” movie trailer inspires nationwide buzz

2019-07-30T14:25:41-04:00

Focus Features has released the trailer for the forthcoming movie, “Harriet,” and people are buzzing about it! The movie, a look at the remarkable life of Harriet Tubman, who was born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, stars Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman, as well as Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monae. In the first 48 hours after it was released, the trailer had more than 3.6 million views on YouTube. Oprah magazine is already using the word “Oscar.” As Focus Features describes the film: “Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, HARRIET tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.” It is set to be in theaters Nov. 1.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and spent more than 25 years toiling here. By taking the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, today you can visit more than 30 spots of historical significance to Harriet Tubman or the Underground Railroad. Visitors to the byway have called the experience moving, powerful, and inspiring. The byway stops include the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, opened in 2017 and run by the National and Maryland Park Services. The byway also includes the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational  Center in Cambridge, MD,  home to the new Harriet Tubman Mural that became a viral sensation earlier this year and continues to draw visitors from far and wide.  Other highlights include the Bucktown General Store, the site where Harriet showed her first act of defiance — and ended up injured and almost dying.

(Photo here is from the Focus Features movie poster.)

“Harriet” movie trailer inspires nationwide buzz2019-07-30T14:25:41-04:00
24 07, 2019

Day of Resilience set for Sept. 7

2019-09-10T10:30:32-04:00

A very special event is happening here in Harriet Tubman Country Saturday, Sept. 7. A Day of Resilience will be the official ribbon cutting for the Harriet Tubman Mural, as well as an event to recognize and reflect on the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Africans to be sold into bondage in North America in 1619 at Jamestown. The trans-Atlantic slave trade forced more than 12 million Africans from their homes to work on plantations and in mines in other countries.
Here’s a rundown of events, most of which happen in Cambridge, Maryland.

12pm: Drum call, pouring of libations, dance and spoken word at the Dorchester County Courthouse, which had been the site of slave auctions in the 1800s (It’s also Stop #3 on the Tubman Byway). 206 High St.

12:25 pm: A processional, “The Healing Journey,” from the Courthouse to the Harriet Tubman Mural, several blocks away at 424 Race St.

1pm: Harriet Tubman Mural dedication featuring drumming, guest speakers, and ribbon cutting with the artist Michael Rosato, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, Maryland State Arts Council, and special guests.

1:45pm: A luncheon for visiting dignitaries at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center (Stop #5 on the Tubman Byway), 424 Race St., with local restaurants, vendors and food trucks serving the general public.

After the ribbon cutting, there will be several afternoon events happening simultaneously:

2pm: 7th Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the Cambridge Marina. Souls at Sea is an on-water libation and remembrance ceremony commemorating the lives lost in the waters along the Middle Passage.

2:30pm: Constituency for Africa (CFA)’s Harriet Tubman Town Hall Meeting on Africa at Waugh United Methodist Church, 425 High St., will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Julius Garvey (son of Marcus Mossiah Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)) and Linda Thomas Greenfield, former assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, as moderator. A panel will feature three ambassadors from Africa:

  • Ambassador Mahamadou Nimaga, Embassy of the Republic of Mali
  • Ambassador Monica N. Nashandi, Embassy of the Republic of Namibia
  • Ambassador Frederic Edem Hegbe, Embassy of the Republic of Togo

3pm: The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, about a 20 minute drive from Cambridge, will provide a ranger-led introduction tour to the park. It is located amid the landscapes where Harriet Tubman lived and toiled. The Tubman Visitor Center is open until 5pm.

5:30pm: The Gathering at Cannery Way will allow everyone to reflect on the day and continue the celebration of Harriet Tubman. Vendors, music and food will be available.

Shuttle services will be available.

The event is being organized in part by Alpha Genesis Community Dev Corporation and Dorchester Center for the Arts.

Watch for updates on the Facebook event page.

Day of Resilience set for Sept. 72019-09-10T10:30:32-04:00
29 06, 2019

New Harriet Tubman mural in Cambridge goes viral

2019-07-25T14:42:56-04:00

A new mural featuring a powerful image of Harriet Tubman has just been finished and is attracting attention from around the country, with some people moved to tears. On the side of the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (Stop #5 on the Tubman Byway road trip), the mural shows Tubman with her hand outstretched, beckoning the viewer to join her on a journey to freedom. The mural, “Take My Hand,” was painted by Michael Rosato, an artist who lives in Dorchester County, Maryland, where Tubman was born and lived in slavery for more than 25 years. Rosato’s work is nationally known; his paintings are featured in major museum exhibits, stadiums, corporate offices, and private residences around the country.

A post featuring a photo of the mural and a little girl reaching out to touch Tubman’s hand (taken by local shopkeepers at Maiden Maryland), went viral on social media, with thousands of people moved, some to tears, by the powerful image. Major media outlets picked up on the story. The photo appeared twice in one week on the Today Show.

In an interview with a viewer, Rosato talked about what he is trying to convey through this mural. “The inspiration comes from that moment when a slave has to make a decision to go,” he said. “This incredibly strong and compassionate woman is about to offer that hand for that freedom. And I thought, how do I capture that moment where it all happens, when the risk was taken to run from the slave owner, to a woman taking a risk to bring you through to the other side. This is that special moment when the hand is being offered. She has to be compassionate, but has to assert a certain authority.”

Prints of the mural on archival paper or canvas are now available through the artist at harriettubmanmural.com, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Tubman Museum, Alpha Genesis, and Dorchester Center for the Arts (the nonprofit organizations who made the mural possible).

The mural was commissioned by the Dorchester Center for the Arts for the 50th Anniversary of the Maryland State Arts Council. It is a partnership project between Dorchester Center for the Arts, Alpha Genesis CDC, The Maryland State Arts Council, and the Harriet Tubman Organization, with additional support from Downtown Cambridge. As public art it represents a gift to the people of Cambridge, Dorchester County, and beyond.

Rosato also painted Tubman as part of a mural celebrating local African-American heritage; that mural is located at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Route 50 in Cambridge. His murals of other local topics are also located around Dorchester County as part of the Chesapeake Country Mural Trail. A new audio guide cell phone app featuring this new mural and other Rosato mural was released June 1. Learn more about the audio guide.

The Tubman Museum & Educational Center, located at 424 Race Street in Cambridge, MD, is run completely by dedicated volunteers who have been working hard to share Tubman’s legacy for decades. The museum includes exhibits about Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Hours are 12-3pm Tuesday through Friday, and 12-4pm on Saturdays. For more information, call the museum at 410-228-0401. The museum is also the site of some of the events during the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Conference, May 31-June 1.

New Harriet Tubman mural in Cambridge goes viral2019-07-25T14:42:56-04:00
28 06, 2019

Walking Tour of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge set for Sept. 21

2019-08-26T16:07:19-04:00

Did you know that Frederick Douglass was born in the next county over from where Harriet Tubman was born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Recently some interesting history about Douglass’s visits to Cambridge, MD, has been rediscovered, and on Sept. 21, you can join the Walking Tour of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge. The tour retraces the steps that Douglass took during two visits to Cambridge in 1877 and 1878, and includes two stops along the Tubman Byway (Sites #3 and #4). 2018 marked 200 years since Douglass’s birth.

The tour will begin at Long Wharf, where Douglass arrived in Cambridge, and proceed up High Street past the Courthouse and Christ Episcopal Church. Stopping at Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church and then proceeding down Pine Street to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where Douglass addressed a multi-racial gathering including members of the Lloyd family.

This tour will also interweave the local history of Patty Cannon, Professor John Mercer Langston, Governor Henry Lloyd, Rev. Henry Augustus Monroe, Bishop John Fletcher Hurst and others.

The tour will formally conclude on Pine Street in front of Bethel AME Church, which is a historic African-American community. Tour goers are encouraged to explore downtown Cambridge following the tour and get lunch at a nearby eatery on the adjacent Race Street. See restaurant options in Downtown Cambridge.

The tour begins at 9am on Sept. 21, and is led by John Muller, historian and author of “Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia.” Tickets cost $20; free for students. Find details and buy tickets.

There is free parking at Long Wharf (near High and Water Streets).

Cambridge is also home to the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (home of the new Harriet Tubman Mural), and about 20 minutes drive from the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center.

Walking Tour of Frederick Douglass in Cambridge set for Sept. 212019-08-26T16:07:19-04:00
5 04, 2019

Tubman UGRR Conference is May 31-June 1

2019-05-18T10:34:01-04:00

The 10th annual Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Conference is set for May 31 – June 1, 2019 in Cambridge, Maryland — just a few miles from the lands where Harriet Tubman lived and toiled, as well as the site of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and home to the Harriet Tubman Byway.

The two-day symposium focuses on the research about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. This conference invites historians, students, educators, genealogists, researchers, artists, musicians and community members to share and compare research, history research methods, interpretation, curriculum ideas, and creative artistic expressions with a growing community of enthusiasts. This year’s theme is “It Ran on Faith.”

One of the keynote speakers at the Tubman Conference is Tina Wyatt, the great-great-great niece of Harriet Tubman. The other is Karsonya Wise Whitehead of Loyola University.

Some of the conference events take place at the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, which has gone viral on social media recently for its powerful new mural of Harriet Tubman on the side of the building. Read more about the mural.

Come and experience the landscape, the stories and the faith that the presenters have unearthed. This conference is a wonderful place to meet others who share your passion for history.

Find out more and register at harriettubmanundergroundrailroadconference.com. You can also email tubman.conference@gmail.com or call 410-228-7953.

Tubman UGRR Conference is May 31-June 12019-05-18T10:34:01-04:00
2 04, 2019

Heritage Area Releases Cell Phone Tours

2019-04-02T10:11:49-04:00

Tours celebrate history, heritage

To celebrate Dorchester County’s 350th anniversary, the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area has created a new cell phone app featuring a suite of walking and driving guides that showcase the unique history and heritage of Dorchester County.

The Visit Dorchester Audio Tour Guide is free and can downloaded from the Google Play Store for android devices and the App Store for iPhones. In addition to describing significant historical highlights, narrators note unique architectural details and share their own personal reflections and first-hand memories of events and activities related to the featured sites, said Julie Gilberto-Brady, manager of the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area.

“Our app invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich history, culture and traditions of Dorchester County,” Gilberto-Brady said. “What I especially like about this guide and what makes it unique is that our narrators go beyond the expected facts and dates. Because many of them lived the events or have direct connections to the sites on the tour, our narrators are able to share candid, firsthand personal perspectives.

“You also have easy access to compelling descriptions for iconic sites and historical events. The audio guides enrich visitor experiences by enabling them to proceed at their own pace and by presenting content that enhances written brochures. They eliminate the need to read through long text descriptions, the need for docents and the need to maintain long interpretive signs at designated sites.”

Pine Street Tour

The Pine Street Tour, the first of the three guides to be released, focuses on African-American history and heritage in Cambridge. Local historians and residents with connections to the featured sites and significant events narrate each stop.

For instance, Dion Banks talks about Long Wharf, providing historical background. Then he shares how he has traced his family history and that his ancestors were unloaded from slave ships at this spot. His poignant reflection includes how he tries to see the landscape through their eyes and their perspective.

The tour proceeds up historic High Street with a story from the last known surviving African-American skipjack captain and stops at a house along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and the Dorchester County Courthouse. As visitors continue to Pine Street, narrators share firsthand memories of the neighborhood’s heyday, when the area had so much energy it was nicknamed “Little New York.”

As part of the Chitlin’ Circuit, entertainment venues in this area hosted some of the greatest names in music during the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and early ’60s. In this segment of the tour, Greg Meekins notes that the historical nature of blues and jazz still resonate on Pine Street. But he also pauses to describe how vividly he remembers the night in 1967 when a devastating fire on Pine Street consumed the majority of the neighborhood’s black businesses.

As travelers walk in the footsteps of Gloria Richardson, they will hear compelling descriptions of the turbulent 1960s when Pine Street thrust Cambridge before a worldwide audience, and it emerged as one of the most important battlegrounds in the Civil Rights movement. And they will hear the reminiscences of long-time residents who attended the segregated school on Pine Street and who helped make the renowned pies and “beaten biscuits” that were the specialty of the neighborhood bakery.

Download the Tours

The Pine Street Tour includes 11 stops. Additional tours, focusing on Downtown Cambridge and the Chesapeake Mural Trail, will be released in May and June. They also will be available on the same Visit Dorchester app.

Download the free Visit Dorchester app from the Google Play Store for android devices, or from the App Store for iPhones and iPads.

Heritage Area Releases Cell Phone Tours2019-04-02T10:11:49-04:00

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway
The Tubman Byway is a self-guided driving tour that winds for more than 125 miles through the beautiful landscapes and waterscapes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and then another 98 miles through Delaware. It includes 45 historically significant sites related to the Underground Railroad. Spend a couple of hours or a couple of days exploring.

2 Rose Hill Place, Cambridge, MD 21613 | 410-228-1000 | info@harriettubmanbyway.org
© Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway | All Rights Reserved
Go to Top