The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, Site #13 along the Tubman Byway, hosts family-friendly programming on weekends in the month of February in honor of Black History Month. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9am to 5pm and all events are free of charge. Below is the schedule. There are several other Black History events happening in the area around the Tubman Byway, including films, a walking tour, and talks, as well as a mural that was completed last summer.
Black History Month Events at the Tubman Visitor Center
Fridays | February 2, 9, 16 and 23
- Introductions at 10am, noon, 2pm, and 4pm. Enjoy a ranger-led introduction and learn about the symbolism of the park and Visitor Center.
Saturdays | February 3, 10 and 24
- Conversations with a Ranger at 11am. Meet other guests and engage in a ranger-led conversation. Topics include why Araminta Ross changed her name to Harriet Tubman and what skills made her a successful Underground Railroad conductor.
- William Still: An Underground Railroad Operator and his Passengers at 2pm. William Still’s 800-page tome The Underground Railroad was based on records he kept while working as a secretary at the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. Learn about his personal history, the passengers he assisted in Philadelphia, and why this is such a vital record.
Sundays | February 4 and 18
- Guided Tours of the Exhibit Hall at noon and 3 p.m. Enjoy a guided tour of the exhibit hall and gain a deeper understanding of Tubman’s formative years.
- The Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Underground Railroad at 1pm to 2pm. Join a park ranger and learn about the landscape of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and how it was an integral part of the Underground Railroad for Freedom seekers.
Daily in February:
- Junior Ranger Activity: Request a Junior Ranger activity booklet from the front desk, complete the activities using the exhibits, and take the Junior Ranger pledge with a park ranger. Receive a junior ranger patch as a reminder to discover, learn, and protect our natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
- Exhibits: Immerse yourself in Tubman’s world through informative, evocative and emotive exhibits that explain how the landscape of the Choptank River region shaped Tubman’s early years and the importance of her faith, family and community.
- They Called Her Moses: Learn about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in Dorchester County, Maryland by watching the Outdoors Maryland feature about the Visitor Center.