Updated Sept. 11, 2025

September is International Underground Railroad Month in Maryland. Why September? It’s the month when Harriet Tubman (born here in Dorchester County) made her first attempt to escape slavery (Sept. 17) and when abolitionist Frederick Douglass self-liberated himself in Baltimore (Sept. 3). And did you know that Maryland has the most documented successful escapes using the Underground Railroad? Below are a few meaningful ways to mark the month on Maryland’s Eastern Shore – birthplace of both Tubman and Douglass.

NOTE: The Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, Stop #6 along the Tubman Byway, is temporarily closed for renovations, but the museum is still leading narrated history walks.

Harriet Tubman’s Emancipation Day Celebration

Sept. 13, 10am-3pm
At the Harriet Tubman Visitor Center in Church Creek, MD. Join in commemorating the 176th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s courageous choice to self-emancipate and embark on her journey with the Underground Railroad. Free, but donations welcome.

Schedule of Events:

  • 10am: Join Ranger Robin to explore the unseen African origins of the banjo and the festival music enslaved people made for it before the Civil War. Meet in the theater.
  • 11am: Experience an interactive hip hop-style book talk and signing with Ms. Caroline Brewer, author of Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature followed by a 2-mile musical walk through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge with Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center co-director and singer Linda Harris and David Cole on banjo. Meet at the pavilion.
  • 12pm: Join a Park Ranger for a guided tour of the Visitor Center Exhibit Hall.
  • 12-3pm: Visit the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways display in our lobby to discover traditional foods.
  • 12-3pm: Enjoy Traditional Children’s Games including marbles, mancala, jacks, and more in the Legacy Garden.
  • 1pm: Performance by Heart and Sole, a dynamic performing arts program that nurtures talent of youth in all areas of performance, acting, singing, drumming, and dance, while teaching essential life skills that build confidence, discipline and resilience. Meet at the pavilion.
  • 2pm: A captivating musical performance by Jayla Elise, the voice behind the Dorchester County anthem “Dorchester Dreams,” draws inspiration from the rich stories and traditions of the community. Meet at the pavilion.

Tubman’s First Escape – Commemorative Walk and Concert

Sept. 14, 10am
Join in a narrated history walk down Harrisville Road, the place of Harriet Tubman’s birth, led by the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center. After the walk, there will be a concert by David B. Cole and Mainstreet Blues at nearby Emily’s Produce. Lunch and refreshments available. The walk is free and open to the public – donations appreciated. RSVP.

Harriet Tubman “Taste of Freedom” Art Exhibit

Throughout September; Thursday-Saturday, 12-3pm

Curated by Larry “Poncho” Brown and hosted by Alex & Lisa Green of the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center, this powerful exhibit brings together over 40 artists whose work explores heritage, resistance, and liberation. At the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center, 3030 Center Drive, Cambridge, MD. Stop by or arrange ahead for a guided tour: harriettubmanfreedomcenter@gmail.com or 866-227-9375.

Take the “Tubman Country” Road Trip

Another way to mark International Underground Railroad 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, including the well-known “Take My Hand” mural, the “Beacon of Hope” sculpture, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. Enrich your experience with our free audio guide.