40. Blackbird

Landscape for Freedom Seekers

Harriet Tubman noted that a place called “Blackbird” was one of her landmarks as she journeyed through Delaware, but her precise pathways and stops here are not known. She may have been referring to one or more of the free black communities that once existed within the Blackbird Forest area. To the north are the historic towns of Middletown and Odessa, also important stops along the Underground Railroad. The 6,000-acre Blackbird State Forest evokes some of the landscapes that fugitive slaves and their guides would have encountered in parts of Delaware. These rich natural resources both hindered and enabled freedom seekers on their perilous journeys to the north. Blackbird State Forest offers 40 miles of trails and is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Here you will find primitive campsites, picnic sites, seasonal hunting and catch-and-release fishing.

A short distance to the north is Middletown, a crossroads town between Odessa and Bohemia Landing, Maryland. Visitors will find a vibrant downtown of 19th-century historic buildings and shops, as well as suburban amenities. Toward the eastern end of town, the property of Middletown High School hosts a memorial park to the lives of freedom seekers and abolitionists.

A marker tells the story of Quaker abolitionists and Underground Railroad agents, John Hunn and John Alston, who once farmed the land there. It also commemorates the bravery of operative Samuel D. Burris and the freedom-seeking Hawkins Family.