Harriet Tubman Archives - Harriet Tubman Byway

18 09, 2023

U.S. Navy ship named after Harriet Tubman during event along Tubman Byway

Jill Jasuta2023-09-18T14:25:42-04:00

This story comes from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, dvidshub.net

US Navy Ship - Photo by Mark D Faram, US Navy

Ship similar to the one that will be named after Harriet Tubman. Photo by Mark D Faram, U.S. Navy

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced today that he named a U.S. Navy ship after American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman, Sept. 17.

SECNAV Del Toro made the announcement during an Emancipation Celebration at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek, Md. National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran, joined Secretary Del Toro for the announcement at the park.

The future USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213) follows the tradition of naming John Lewis-class oilers after civil rights leaders and is the second vessel to bear her name. The first was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II.

“It’s an honor to maintain the naming tradition for our John Lewis-class oilers, and Harriet Tubman is more than deserving of this recognition,” said Del Toro. “She was born into unimaginable circumstances, but she dedicated her life to facing great danger and adversity, becoming a ‘conductor of freedom’, helping others escape slavery. In addition, during the Civil War, Tubman was the first African American woman to serve formally in the military. Her legacy deserves our nation’s continued recognition, and our fleet benefits from having her name emblazoned on the hull of one of our great ships.”

Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, in 1822, Tubman was named Araminta by her enslaved parents, Ben and Rit Ross. She changed her name to Harriet after marrying freeman John Tubman in 1844. Tubman escaped slavery in 1849, when her enslaver died and she was to be sold. Sept. 17, 1849, marks the day Harriet Tubman made the important decision to self-liberate. It was this date that she and her brothers Ben and Henry ran away; however, after a couple of weeks into their journey her brothers “disagreed with her about directions” and succumbed to the fear of being captured and convinced her to return with them. Tubman left a second time later that fall (exact date unknown) and reached freedom in Philadelphia.

In the ensuing years, she undertook numerous missions south to help at least 70 men, women, and children escape slavery. Known as “Moses,” Tubman became an iconic figure during the American Civil War, serving as a Union spy, scout, nurse and cook. In June 1863, she helped plan and execute a successful raid on Combahee Ferry near Port Royal, South Carolina, guiding Union naval steamships carrying 300 Black troops of the 2nd Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored). The raid resulted in the liberation of more than 750 enslaved people. After the war, she continued to advocate for the rights of African Americans and women, speaking at a number of women’s suffrage events alongside Susan B. Anthony. Tubman died in 1913 and was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York.

“This tribute commemorates the powerful legacy of one of our country’s most selfless heroes,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “The Underground Railroad’s most famous conductor was devoted to the cause of ensuring freedom for all despite personal sacrifice and risk. A true role model for the sailors who will serve on the USNS Harriet Tubman, her passion, courage and intelligence empowered her to overcome extreme obstacles for the benefit of others.”

Along with the ship’s name, Del Toro also announced that the ship’s sponsor will be Tina Wyatt, the great, great, great grandniece of Harriet Tubman. The ship’s sponsor represents a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew. Wyatt has spent her life helping others as a nurse and also educating and sharing the legacy of Harriet Tubman.

“Harriet Ross Tubman is a symbol of faith, freedom, family, democracy and love. Aunt Harriet’s legacy is an inspiration to a higher calling within us all, and overall, how we are enabled by sharing love for others and self. It is her supply from God that she had been able to supply others throughout her lifetime and still, her footprint lives on and supplies us now. Such a strong and dazzling example of symbolism in her honor, the naming of an oiler, a ship that supplies other ships with fuel and cargo to function at its highest level, is an example of what she gave in life and continues to give,” said Wyatt.

The future USNS Harriet Tubman is the ninth ship of the John Lewis-class. The class and lead ship are named in honor of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis from Georgia.

The ships are designed to supply fuel to the Navy’s operating carrier strike groups. The oilers have the ability to carry a load of 162,000 barrels of oil and maintain significant dry cargo capacity

U.S. Navy ship named after Harriet Tubman during event along Tubman BywayJill Jasuta2023-09-18T14:25:42-04:00

16 02, 2023

Governor shares archaeological news along Tubman Byway

Jill Jasuta2023-02-26T09:22:34-05:00

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 BywayJill Jasuta2023-02-26T09:22:34-05:00

30 01, 2023

Black History Month Events 2023

Julie Gilberto-Brady2023-02-26T09:21:57-05:00

Celebrate Black History Month along with events and programming along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. The Dorchester County Tourism website has a comprehensive Black History Month round-up of events in the area. You can view it here. It also includes the following:

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park (4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622) will be unveiling its new Story Book Trail, Before She Was Harriet, by Lesa Cline-Ransome, in their legacy garden. Other activities at the State Park include:

Twenty Dollars and Change

2pm on February 4

Dr. Clarence Lusane, Howard University professor and author, and Harriet Tubman’s great-great-great grandniece, Ernestine Tina Martin Wyatt, will have a conversation about Dr. Lusane’s upcoming book, Twenty Dollars and Change, and what the fight to replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill reveals about race, class, and social justice in America today.

A Network of Evil: Patty Cannon and the Reverse Underground Railroad

2pm on February 11

Join Ranger Collin and unearth the harrowing true-story of the Reverse Underground Railroad on the Eastern Shore, which sought to kidnap free African-Americans and press them into slavery. Behind this network of evil stood one of the most sinister figures in American history, a woman by the name of Patty Cannon. Discover her role in one of America’s darkest chapters. *Content may not be suitable for all ages.

Meet the Bust of Harriet Tubman with a Ranger on the hour

11am-3pm on February 18

Ranger-guided tours of the exhibits on the hour

11am-3pm on February 25

Traditional children’s games and crafts in the multi-purpose room

Noon-3pm, every Sunday in February

Download a flyer with the State Park Activities here.

Black History Month Events 2023Julie Gilberto-Brady2023-02-26T09:21:57-05:00

13 09, 2022

Emancipation Day celebration is Sept. 18 at Tubman Visitor Center

Jill Jasuta2022-09-13T17:04:38-04:00

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center hosts Emancipation Day to celebrate Harriet Tubman’s decision to self-liberate, which she made in September 1849. On Sunday, September 18, from 10am to 4pm, the event will include educational programs and family fun. Activities include a birding outing, an interactive foraging tour with historian Anthony Cohen, and children’s games. Topics of the talks include “Black Jacks, Iron Furnaces, and the Underground Railroad;” “African American Women in the Civil War;” and “Gloria Richardson and the Cambridge Civil Rights Movement.” Self-guided activities include Park Quest, Junior Ranger (original version), and Junior Ranger (sights and sounds of freedom version). This year marks 2oo years since Harriet Tubman’s birth. September is also International Underground Railroad Month in Maryland.

Here is the full schedule.

10 a.m.: Birds of Tubman Country. Let’s go birding! Join Ranger Lawson on a fun-filled outing in the park’s Legacy Garden. Make sure to bring your binoculars! Please meet at the north deck of the Visitor Center.

11 a.m.: Reminiscing on Nostalgia. Join Ranger “Mama Mary” Dennard on this interactive journey down memory lane as she looks back at the past and her early years spent in Dorchester County. Understand the progress that has been made as she shares her life experiences and encourages you to appreciate your life in 2022. Please meet in the multi-purpose room inside the Visitor Center.

Noon: They Pointed Them North: Black Jacks, Iron Furnaces, and the Underground Railroad. Join Ranger Tim and learn about the vital roles played by Black Jacks and iron furnaces on the Underground Railroad. Please meet in the multi-purpose room inside the Visitor Center.

1 p.m.: African American Women in the Civil War. Join Ranger Henry and delve into Harriet Tubman’s time in the Union Army and the important roles women played in the Civil War. Harriet Tubman is best known for her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Lesser known is that from 1862 to 1865 she served the Union Army as a nurse and a scout, even helping to lead an armed raid. Please meet in the multi-purpose room inside the Visitor Center.

2 p.m.: The Fight Continues: Gloria Richardson and the Cambridge Civil Rights Movement. Join Ranger Collin and learn about the perseverance, determination, and activism of Gloria Richardson. A century after the birth of Harriet Tubman, one brave woman would stand up and lead a fight against racism and oppression. She would create an electrifying movement that drew the eyes of a nation to the small city of Cambridge. Though she is often forgotten, the legacy of Gloria Richardson and the fight she started continues to this day. Please meet in the multi-purpose room inside the Visitor Center.

3 p.m.: Foraging Freedom: Experiencing the Natural World of the Underground Railroad. Join historian Anthony Cohen for an immersive experience and discover how self-liberators used the natural world to assist in their escapes. This interactive tour will guide visitors along paths through the Legacy Garden, as well as the adjoining Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and reveal how the flora, fauna, and landscape of the Eastern Shore played a crucial role in the quest for freedom! Participants should expect to be on their feet and are encouraged to wear comfortable all-weather shoes. No dogs are allowed on the refuge. Please meet at the pavilion.

All-day Activities:

10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom (Extended Trailer). View on-the-hour screenings of Maryland Public Television’s extended trailer for “Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom” in the theater.

Noon-3 p.m.: Children’s Games. Join Ranger Joanna for some family fun in our legacy garden. Activities will include traditional children’s games such as marbles, horseshoes, jump rope, and potato sack races!

Address: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, Maryland 21622
Phone: 410-221-2290

While you’re here, plan a road trip to explore more of the Harriet Tubman Byway. More info.

Emancipation Day celebration is Sept. 18 at Tubman Visitor CenterJill Jasuta2022-09-13T17:04:38-04:00

12 09, 2022

‘Beacon of Hope’ statue honors Tubman in her homeland

Jill Jasuta2024-05-21T06:51:28-04:00

Beacon of Hope, the inspiring, 13-foot bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman, is located just a few miles from where the Underground Railroad conductor was born in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The dedication celebration in 2022, in conjunction with the bicentennial of Harriet’s birth, marked the culmination of two years of community grassroots fundraising and activities to create and install the permanent sculpture at the Dorchester County Courthouse, a place where enslaved ancestors were auctioned and Tubman’s niece was rescued.

Motivated by the traveling Harriet Tubman sculpture that graced the Courthouse entrance in 2020, Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation led the drive to have a permanent Harriet Tubman statue created specifically for Dorchester County. Wesley Wofford, the Emmy- and Academy-award winning sculptor who created the traveling Harriet statue created the new one that specifically reflects her connections to Dorchester County. It is especially noteworthy that at a time when other cities are taking down monuments, the Dorchester County community came together one to honor one of their own – Harriet Tubman.

It was Tubman’s experiences in Dorchester County – both horrific slavery and love of God and family – that were the basis for forming her into the woman she became. Her legacy and her commitment to the ideals of true freedom and equality have made her an icon of courage and determination that is still relevant today. The impetus for this sculpture came during a tumultuous time for this country, a time of heightened social unrest coupled with a deadly pandemic. Yet, in Dorchester County, a grassroots movement arose, uniting a diverse community inspired by the community’s shared admiration and respect for Tubman’s legacy. Two hundred years after Tubman’s birth, “Beacon of Hope” was unveiled in 2022, celebrating the common experiences and shared values that form a foundation of respect and admiration to build a more equitable future.

The sculpture is rich with symbolism that reflects Tubman’s legacy. Not far from Cambridge at the Bucktown General Store (Stop #17 on the Tubman Byway), Araminta Ross was struck in the head with a weight, an injury she attributed to opening her to visions. This story is the basis for this sculpture, and a replica of the weight is embedded in the sculpture.

As young Araminta lifted herself from the ground, she had a vision of the strong woman she would become. The sculpture depicts Harriet reaching down to help her younger self up and offering her a key to unlock the shackle on her little arm. With this “generational key,” Araminta unlocked her inner strength to forge her own destiny: the rebirth of Araminta Ross as Harriet Tubman.

The oxen yoke illustrates the historical story of young Minty steering a team of oxen with her father. but it is also a metaphor for the yoke of slavery. Harriet crushes this broken obstacle to the point of snapping it. The piles of shackles and chains depict all of the lives adversely affected by slavery. The open shackles represent those whom she freed, and the closed ones represent those left behind, as well as the work that still is to be done to achieve true American equality.

While Harriet used the North Star to navigate out of bondage, she then became the compass rose to the thousands of enslaved who followed her guiding light to Freedom.

The Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge is Stop #3 on the road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

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 (Stop #6 on the Byway).

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.
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.

‘Beacon of Hope’ statue honors Tubman in her homelandJill Jasuta2024-05-21T06:51:28-04:00

29 08, 2022

Dedication of New Harriet Tubman Sculpture to Highlight Day of Resilience Sept. 10

Jill Jasuta2022-09-05T15:23:10-04:00

The Fourth Annual Day of Resilience on Sept. 10, 2022 will feature a very special and significant highlight – the dedication of the Beacon of Hope, an inspiring, 13-foot bronze sculpture honoring Harriet Tubman in conjunction with the bicentennial of her birth. The event also includes commemorations; roundtable discussions on current events and issues; a Harriet Tubman reenactor; song, dance and poetry performances; Underground Railroad Byway tours; and presentations from renowned historians, as well as Tubman’s descendants. All in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore – where Harriet Tubman was born 200 years ago.

“This historic event is especially noteworthy because Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed 2022 ‘The Year of Harriet Tubman,’ and our weekend of programming and activities will serve to support and elevate awareness of her legacy and promote greater appreciation of the significant role that she played in Dorchester and U.S. history,” said Adrian Holmes, director of Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation. “It is especially fitting that the heart of the Day of Resilience this year will be the unveiling of the new, permanent sculpture at the Dorchester County Courthouse honoring one of our own – Harriet Tubman.”

The Day of Resilience commemoration and unveiling ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will begin at noon on Sept. 10 on the Dorchester County Courthouse lawn (206 High St., Cambridge, MD) and will feature Keynote Speaker Samuel C. Still III, a descendant of the famous Civil War Abolitionist William Still, who was proclaimed “The Father of the Underground Railroad” in his obituary in 1902. William Still is credited with helping more than 800 freedom seekers escape slavery. NOTE: Seating will be limited, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

The new sculpture will be at the location of Tubman’s first rescue – of her niece Kessiah Bowley. Historian Edduard Prince, who is a descendant of Bowley, also will be speaking during the program. Other featured presenters include Historian Vincent Leggett, founder and president of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, whose research and work have focused on the Underground Railroad and on the significant contributions of Black watermen to the maritime and seafood-related industries of the Chesapeake Bay, and sculptor Wesley Wofford, who will discuss his work on the sculpture, which is rich in symbolism that specifically reflects Tubman’s connection to Dorchester County, Maryland.

The public also is invited to participate in related events that are scheduled throughout the weekend of September 9-11, including:

Underground Railroad Tours available on Friday, 3-6pm. More info.
The Taste of Resilience on Friday, Sept. 9 at the newly restored Phillips Packing House in Cambridge, MD. The event, beginning at 5pm, will kick off the weekend with reflections, a quilt display, food and entertainment. Advance tickets are required.
The Art Awards Ceremony recognizing the students whose winning artwork was inspired by Harriet Tubman. The presentation will be at 10:30am on Saturday at the Dorchester County Courthouse.
A Drum Processional and Waterside Libations, which will begin with Nana Malaya Rucker-Oparabea leading a walk at 10:45am on Saturday from the Dorchester Courthouse, down historic High Street to Long Wharf Marina, where ships bearing enslaved persons once docked.
A Souls at Sea land and on-water libation and remembrance ceremony commemorating the lives lost in the waters along the Middle Passage, beginning at 3:30pm on Saturday at Long Wharf Marina, High and Water Streets in Cambridge.
The Constituency for Africa Ron Brown Townhall Meeting at 3:30pm on Saturday at the Art Bar 2.0. Melvin Foote, CFA founder, will host panelists Ambassador Carlos Dos Santos from The Republic of Mozambique and Ambassador Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who will discuss “Mobilizing the Diaspora: Mission Impossible.” The CFA’s mission is to build public and private support for Africa, and to help shape a progressive U.S. policy towards Africa.
A Public Art Panel Discussion, “Telling the Stories of Our Communities,” at 3:30pm at the Dorchester Center for the Arts (321 High St., Cambridge). Panelists and participants include Wesley Wofford, who created the new Harriet Tubman Sculpture Beacon of Hope; Michael Rosato, who designed the Harriet Tubman Take My Hand mural; Miriam Moran, who designed the Black Lives Matter mural on Cambridge’s Race Street; Bridget Cimino, who designed the new Dorchester Women’s Mural; Sydnei SmithJordan, whose art pieces are a part of the permanent collection with the Harriet Tubman Museum of Cape May, N.J.; and Liesel Fenner, public art director for the Maryland State Arts Council. The panel moderator will be Jon West-Bey, independent curator and museum consultant, who is on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University.
Activities in Downtown Cambridge throughout Saturday afternoon, including a Vendor Market at Cannery Way (400 block of Race Street, Cambridge) with food trucks, handmade goods, music and kids’ activities, such as face painting and clay sculpting. Chesapeake College will be hosting their annual crab sale to support the J. C. Gibson Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1:30-4:40pm (418 Race Street). Free movie screenings at the Escape Room at 520 Race Street will feature local films revealing the unique history of Cambridge and Dorchester County, including “You Don’t Know Nuthin’ ‘Bout Groove City” and “The Voices of Indiantown,” as well as shorts from Dorchester County Tourism.
Jazz at the Mural featuring the Eric Byrd Trio will be begin at 7pm on Saturday at the Harriet Tubman Take My Hand mural near the 400 block of Race Street. Tickets are required.
An Evening at the Beacon of Hope will present the opportunity for an impromptu gathering at the new sculpture where visitors can share a poem, a song or uplifting words from 7:30pm-8:30pm on Saturday.
Gospel Jazz Brunch from 11am-1pm on Sunday at the Art Bar 2.0, 420 Race Street. Tickets are required.
Dinner and a play, Harriet Tubman Fights for Freedom, at 3:30pm on Sunday at the Art Bar 2.0, 420 Race Street. Tickets are required.

See more information about the schedule for the Day of Resilience and the weekend events and for tickets.

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. The event has grown every year since then, and in 2020, the observance was highlighted by the unveiling of a traveling sculpture of Harriet Tubman.

Motivated by the community response to the traveling sculpture, Alpha Genesis led the grassroots drive that raised $250,000 to have the permanent Harriet Tubman statue created specifically for Dorchester County. The unveiling celebration marks the culmination of two years of community grassroots fundraising and activities to create and install the permanent sculpture.

Dedication of New Harriet Tubman Sculpture to Highlight Day of Resilience Sept. 10Jill Jasuta2022-09-05T15:23:10-04:00

28 03, 2022

Maryland governor proclaims “The Year of Harriet Tubman”

Jill Jasuta2022-03-28T09:18:07-04:00

Governor Larry Hogan officially proclaimed 2022 as “The Year of Harriet Tubman” in Maryland as the state celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the nation’s most renowned freedom fighter on March 12. The governor announced the designation at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center in Church Creek as the kick-off to a full weekend of 200th birthday events celebrating the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad.

“I want to encourage all Marylanders to take time this year to come here to visit Dorchester County, to travel the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway, to visit the countless immersive exhibits, which cover every period of Harriet Tubman’s life from slavery to freedom, or to come see the amazing artifacts from the Ben Ross cabin site, which was confirmed just last fall to have been the home of Harriet Tubman’s father,” said Governor Hogan. “It is truly inspiring to think about how we can walk along the same path she did, where she forged her indelible legacy of freedom.”

This weekend also marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, which is co-managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. Since opening in 2017, the park has welcomed more than 300,000 guests from nearly 70 countries—despite a lengthy closure and limited capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those visitors, more than 18,000 youngsters have been sworn in as Harriet Tubman State Park Junior Rangers, following activities that teach about Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy, and the importance of the Underground Railroad.

“This bicentennial year is a perfect time for people to experience Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy by touring the byway and visiting our 17-acre state park and visitors center,” said Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “Throughout ‘The Year of Harriet Tubman,’ the park will offer programs and immersive experiences about Harriet Tubman’s life, surrounded by the landscape that looks much like it did during her time.”

As the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, Maryland is uniquely positioned to celebrate her lifelong achievements and provide visitors and residents places to learn more about Harriet Tubman, her life, and the Underground Railroad. Her stories are told at destinations across Maryland through attractions, special events, curated exhibits, and driving tours.

“Maryland’s Eastern Shore was named in two prestigious travel magazines—National Geographic World Best Places to Travel in 2022 and Fodor’s Best Places of 2022—because of our history, heritage, and connection with Harriet Tubman,” said Secretary Mike Gill of the Maryland Department of Commerce. “I personally encourage everyone to celebrate Tubman’s extraordinary life by traveling in her footsteps, especially along the Tubman Byway.”

The 125-mile-long Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad All-American Road Scenic Byway, which traverses a living land-and-waterscape similar to what Tubman would have experienced in her lifetime, serves as the perfect vehicle for exploration. In addition to sites along the byway, Maryland attractions with permanent exhibits on Harriet Tubman include:

Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis
Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Baltimore City
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History, Baltimore City

For more bicentennial events happening throughout 2022 along the Harriet Tubman Byway, see our bicentennial events roundup.

Maryland governor proclaims “The Year of Harriet Tubman”Jill Jasuta2022-03-28T09:18:07-04:00

25 07, 2019

“Harriet” movie trailer inspires nationwide buzz

Jill Jasuta2019-07-30T14:25:41-04:00

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 buzzJill Jasuta2019-07-30T14:25:41-04:00

23 04, 2018

‘Tubman Travels’ writer shares stories April 27

Jill Jasuta2018-04-23T08:03:46-04:00

The author of Tubman Travels: 32 Underground Railroad Journeys on Delmarva will share a number of the true-life Underground Railroad stories recounted in his book and discuss the life lessons and key discoveries he made while working on it during a presentation on Friday, April 27. The book includes stories not just from the lives of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, but also from a number of other, lesser-known figures who made their own journeys to freedom through the Delmarva Peninsula. The author Jim Duffy lives right here in Tubman Country.

The presentation happens at Layton’s Chance Winery, near Vienna, Maryland — about a 40-minute drive from the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek. This program will begin at 4:30pm with a meet and greet the author, followed by a presentation and discussion.

This is part of the popular “Book Talks” series featuring writers who live on Delmarva and is offered by Westside Historical Society as part of its mission to preserve and promote the rich heritage of the Nanticoke watershed and western Wicomico County. Audience members are encouraged to participate in the discussion. Admission is free. Light refreshments are provided. There will be an opportunity to buy copies of the featured book at the end of the program.

For more information about the event, email westsidehistorical@gmail.com or call the Westside Historical Society, 410-726-8047 or Laura at Layton’s Channce, 410-228-1205. Find out more about the Tubman Travels book.

Address: 4225 New Bridge Rd, Vienna, MD 21869

‘Tubman Travels’ writer shares stories April 27Jill Jasuta2018-04-23T08:03:46-04:00

21 03, 2018

Tubman Byway named a top landmark in U.S.

Julie Gilberto-Brady2018-03-21T12:37:13-04:00

Forbes magazine just named the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway as one of the top women’s history landmarks in the country! Forbes selected one landmark in each state, and the byway was the choice for Maryland. The byway is a 125-mile self-guided, scenic driving tour that shares the powerful stories of Harriet Tubman and other freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. Harriet Tubman was born here in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The byway includes 36 sites in Dorchester and Caroline Counties in Maryland before continuing into Delaware and on to Philadelphia. Learn how you can explore the byway — and take advantage of limited time savings on lodging and more — at our sister website, HarrietTubmanByway.org. Read the Forbes article.

Tubman Byway named a top landmark in U.S.Julie Gilberto-Brady2018-03-21T12:37:13-04:00

5 03, 2018

Tubman Travel Package offers savings

Jill Jasuta2018-03-21T12:36:00-04:00

Travelers along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a self-guided and scenic driving tour on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, can now find special savings through the Tubman Travel Package. The package offers exclusive savings on two nights of lodging with five different accommodations to choose from, as well as $100 worth of vouchers to use for select dining, outdoor adventures, tours, or shopping. The package is available for a limited time.

This educational and experiential travel package is for those interested in a powerful and inspiring opportunity to explore the scenic landscapes where Harriet Tubman and other freedom seekers worked, lived, and escaped slavery. The Tubman Travel Package includes:

Two night’s accommodation with five different lodging choices in Cambridge: Cambridge House B & B, Comfort Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort and Mill Street Inn. Prices range based accommodation choice and availability.
$100 worth of vouchers to use as desired for select dining, outdoor adventures, tours or shopping. Participants are:
- Adventures & Experiences: Blackwater Adventures Chesapeake Bay (kayak, bike and boat rentals and tours), Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, Harriet Tubman Tours
- Restaurants, Food & Drink: Bistro Poplar, Black Water Bakery, Blue Point Provision Co., Emily’s Produce, High Spot Gastropub, Jimmie & Sook’s Raw Bar and Grill, Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery, Palm Beach Willie’s, Portside Seafood Restaurant, Rock Lobstah, Stoked, Suicide Bridge Restaurant, and The Wine Bar
- Shopping: Butterfly Boutique, Calista Boutique, Eagle’s Nest Book & Gift Shop (at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge), Thomas’s Fine Jewelry, and The Wine Bar

In addition to visiting the Tubman Travel Package partners, all Tubman travelers are encouraged to see the new Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, a National and Maryland Park Service attraction, and the nearby Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. There is no admission for both facilities. To reserve a Tubman Travel Package, make a reservation at one of the five lodging partners. You will receive the vouchers when you check in.

Find out more and reserve your spot.

Tubman Travel Package offers savingsJill Jasuta2018-03-21T12:36:00-04:00

4 03, 2018

Tubman Visitor Center – 1st Anniversary Weekend March 10-11, 2018

Jill Jasuta2018-03-11T10:02:38-04:00

Since opening in March 2017, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center has welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors from all 50 states and over 60 countries. Join in the celebration featuring interesting talks and family-friendly activities during their one-year anniversary weekend on March 10-11, 2018. March 10 is also considered Harriet Tubman Day, since it marks the anniversary of her death in 1913 (her exact birthdate is unknown).

The Visitor Center is Site #13 along the Harriet Tubman Byway, a scenic, self-guided driving tour of 36 historically sites on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. For events happening at the Visitor Center, see the events listed below or download the PDF. There are also special happenings planned by these three Tubman Byway sites:

The Bucktown Village Store (Site #17 on the Tubman Byway) will be open March 10 and 11 from 9am to 5pm. It is usually open only by appointment this time of year. Learn more about this historic site.
The Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (Site #5 along the byway), run by devoted volunteers who have been sharing Tubman’s stories for decades, will be open on Sunday, March 11, from 10am to 4pm (they’re usually closed on Sundays). Learn more about the museum.
New Revived United Methodist Church (Site #11 on the Tubman Byway) will host the acclaimed gospel group The Victorian Singers on March 10 at 4pm. The church is located at 4350 Smithville Rd, Taylors Island, MD 21669. Learn more about the church.
The Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center, which has been celebrating Tubman for decades, holds its annual Tubman Banquet from 2:45 to 5:30pm on Saturday, March 10, in Cambridge, MD. Keynote speaker will be Vincent Leggett, author of Blacks of the Chesapeake. Details.
There are also special events happening on March 10 in Delaware, where the Tubman Byway continues. See the special events and read about the 10 women who are ending their 100-mile walk of the Tubman Byway in Wilmington on March 10.

SHUTTLES: On Saturday, March 10, and Sunday, March 11, Harriet Tubman Tours will be offering a shuttle service between Cambridge (stops at the Tubman Museum and four hotels) and the Tubman Visitor Center in Church Creek (about a 20-25 minute drive). $10 per person roundtrip. See the stops and find out more.

NOTE: If you’re coming for the anniversary, be sure to check out the discount travel package being offered by our partners at Dorchester County Tourism — especially for Tubman Travelers. Find out more.

Below is the schedule of events happening March 10-11, 2018, 9am to 5pm at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD 21622.

Meet Harriet Tubman

Re-enactor Millicent Sparks performs her interpretation of Tubman and her monumental life.
Saturday, 9-10am
Sunday, 9-10am

Become a Junior Ranger

Does your child have what it takes to be a Junior Ranger? Start their Tubman experience by requesting the self-guided booklet at the Visitor Services desk. Upon completion participants take the Junior Ranger pledge, get a souvenir hat and a patch to remember their day in Tubman Country!
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-4pm (self-guided program, arrive anytime)

Bound for the Promised Land: Portrait of an American Hero

Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, the Visitor Center’s historical consultant, will present her book Bound for the Promised Land: Portrait of an American Hero. Learn new information and hear about her research methods to uncover new facts about Tubman. Dr. Larson will be signing copies of her book.
Saturday, 10am-11am, book signing from 11am to 12pm in the library
Sunday, 10am-11am, book signing from 11am to 12pm in the library

The View North

Chris Elcock, Senior Associate at GWWO, Inc., Architects, the team behind the design of the Visitor Center will present The View North. Discover the hidden symbolism in the building and surrounding landscape of the park. Saturday, 11am-12pm

Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Concert Choir

Join the UMES Concert Choir for a more intimate encore performance of the concert performed for the Grand Opening of the Visitor Center.
Saturday, 12-1pm

Games Enslaved Children Played

Learn from park rangers the significance and history of games that enslaved children played. Participants will learn about the importance of community, family and friends to enslaved children. Create your own piece of art to remember the park’s first anniversary. Saturday, 1-4pm (ongoing, arrive anytime)
A Viewing of “Carry Me Home” “Carry Me Home” is a 20-minute film that recounts Harriet Tubman’s final passage on the Underground Railroad in the winter of 1860. Saturday, 1-2pm and 3-4pm
Sunday, 1-2pm and 3-4pm

Landscapes, Legacies, and Memorials Of Harriet Tubman’s Extraordinary Life

Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, the Visitor Center’s historical consultant, will present an overview of more than a century’s worth of efforts to preserve and celebrate Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy, from her first biography in 1868, to the placement of Tubman’s likeness on the $20 bill in 2020.
Sunday, 10am-11am, book signing from 11am to 12pm in the library

The Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Underground Railroad

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 in both positive and negative ways.
Sunday, 11am-12pm

A Walk with Tony Cohen

Historian Tony Cohen of the Menare Foundation leads a simulated Underground Railroad journey. Combining artifacts and knowledge of the landscape, his tour around the legacy garden reveals escape secrets used by Tubman and other freedom seekers.
Sunday, 12-1pm

ADDRESS: 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, Md 21622

Tubman Visitor Center – 1st Anniversary Weekend March 10-11, 2018Jill Jasuta2018-03-11T10:02:38-04:00

4 03, 2018

10 women from GirlTrek walking 100 miles along Harriet Tubman Byway

Jill Jasuta2018-03-07T09:06:26-05:00

5 Days. 10 Black women. 100 miles. On foot.

In honor of Harriet Tubman, the greatest freedom fighter that ever was, GirlTrek, the largest national public health nonprofit and movement for Black women and girls, will follow in her footsteps – literally. The entire national team will start off from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where Harriet Tubman made her first escape, and walk the path she took to freedom along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

That’s right: 10 Black women setting out for Harriet’s Great Escape, the ultimate 100-mile trek along the Underground Railroad, on foot. The journey begins on Tuesday, March 6 along the Tubman Byway in Dorchester County, Maryland, and culminates with GirlTrek crossing the Mason Dixon Line into Delaware on March 10, Harriet Tubman Day and a public celebration. The public celebration is 12:30 to 2:30pm at Site #41 along the Tubman Byway, Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park located at 815 Justison St. in Wilmington, Delaware, 19801. Follow along social media using the hashtag #HarrietsGreatEscape.

The GirlTrek national team includes cofounders Vanessa Garrison of Seattle, Washington, currently living in Washington, D.C.; and T. Morgan Dixon of Sacramento, California; as well as jewel bush of New Orleans, Louisiana; Onika Jervis originally of Guyana, currently living in New Orleans, Louisiana; Chyna Johnson of Columbus, Ohio; Carla Harris of Atlanta, Georgia; Sandria Washington of Chicago, Illinois; Nicole Hubb of Prince George’s County, Maryland; Opa Johnson of Miami, Florida and Edisha Brandy from Haven, Connecticut by way of the United States Virgin Islands.

“We realized that we can’t just talk the talk. We will show and prove that 2018 is about radical courage and unshakeable sisterhood,” says GirlTrek cofounder, T. Morgan Dixon. “We’re walking the Underground Railroad. To reach 1 million Black women by 2020, we knew we needed to be even bolder and hold this unprecedented trek. Harriet Tubman saved her own life first and then went back time after time to save the lives of others giving us the blueprint for the work GirlTrek does today. This is radical self-care at its core.”

Since 2013, the 100th year anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s passing, GirlTrek has recognized Harriet Tubman each year by mobilizing thousands of Black women from across the country to walk in her honor in the largest moving tribute, #WeAreHarriet.

Coming off the heels of Black History Month and squarely in the middle of Women’s History Month, this Underground Railroad crossing is monumental. There is a health crisis in America and Black women and girls are among the hardest hit. Every day 137 Black women die from heart disease. This is more than gun violence, HIV/AIDS and smoking combined. And the effects of chronic stress are wearing on Black women mentally, physically and spiritually. Black women die younger and at higher rates than any other group of women in the country: 82% of Black women are currently overweight, 53% are morbidly obese (CDC, 2014), and 95% of Black girls, ages 6-11, will be overweight or obese women by 2034 unless diet and levels of activity change. (Garko, Michael, The Journal of Obesity, 2013).

“The reality is Black women and girls are living under trying circumstances. Many of us live in communities that are under extreme stress whether it be from crime, lack of a living wage, blight or gentrification and the current political climate is only making matters worse,” adds GirlTrek cofounder, Vanessa Garrison. “Now, it is even more important that GirlTrek works to reestablish walking as a healing tradition. We believe that, as women, we are going to have to also liberate, one, ourselves and then come back and be examples and liberate our family. And one of the things we say is that, if Harriet Tubman could walk herself to freedom, we can certainly walk ourselves to better health.”

GirlTrek encourages women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families, and communities. In four years, GirlTrek has mobilized more than 100,000 Black women and girls nationwide. GirlTrek’s goal is to motivate 1 million Black women and girls to walk for better health.

If you’d like to experience the powerful history along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway yourself, you can do so easily by car. The byway is a scenic and self-guided driving tour of some of the places where Harriet Tubman lived, toiled, escaped slavery, and led others to freedom. The byway begins in Cambridge, Maryland. LEARN MORE. You can also take advantage of special savings on lodging and more through the TUBMAN TRAVEL PACKAGE offered through our partners at Dorchester County Tourism.

10 women from GirlTrek walking 100 miles along Harriet Tubman BywayJill Jasuta2018-03-07T09:06:26-05:00

1 03, 2018

Free concert April 8 at Tubman Visitor Center

Jill Jasuta2018-04-23T08:04:26-04:00

Not What You Think, an a cappella ensemble dedicated to social justice, will be singing at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center (Site #13 along the Harriet Tubman Byway, a driving tour of Underground Railroad-related sites) at 1pm and 2:15pm on April 8. The program will include songs from the South African freedom movement and by Dr. Ysaye M. Bardwell. The program will express the journey for equality, freedom, and peace, exemplified by the life of Harriet Tubman.

Free and open to the public.

Not What You Think is an a cappella ensemble performing pop, light jazz, and folk, and was originally affiliated with the Lesbian & Gay Chorus of DC. The members share a core belief that, as gay men and lesbians singing together, they have an opportunity and responsibility to effect change and to open hearts and minds.

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

Free concert April 8 at Tubman Visitor CenterJill Jasuta2018-04-23T08:04:26-04:00

18 01, 2018

Black History Month events at the Tubman Visitor Center

Jill Jasuta2018-02-02T07:28:12-05:00

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.

Black History Month events at the Tubman Visitor CenterJill Jasuta2018-02-02T07:28:12-05:00

13 07, 2017

Harriet Tubman Performance by Millicent Sparks July 21

Jill Jasuta2017-07-13T10:58:07-04:00

Harriet Tubman re-enactor Millicent Sparks performs at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center on Friday, July 21 at 3:30pm. She gives a powerful, moving, inspiring performance. She also performed during the grand opening of the Tubman Visitor Center in March 2017. Free admission (both to the performance and the visitor center), and there’s no need to reserve a spot.

The Tubman Visitor Center is Site #13 along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a self-guided driving tour that winds for 125 miles through Dorchester and Caroline Counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Find out more about the Byway.

ADDRESS: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD

Harriet Tubman Performance by Millicent Sparks July 21Jill Jasuta2017-07-13T10:58:07-04:00

14 03, 2017

New Tubman Visitor Center now open!

Jill Jasuta2017-03-14T17:50:17-04:00

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center is now open in Dorchester County, Maryland! The exhibits inside the center — located just a few miles from where Harriet Tubman was born — share this American hero’s story in powerful and moving ways. This 10,000-square-foot building and its 17-acre park make an excellent launching point for exploring the Tubman Byway, a self-guided driving tour of Underground Railroad-related sites on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The visitor center, which had its grand opening March 10-12, 2017, has attracted much attention — more than 40 media outlets were on hand to cover the opening! (See highlights of the media coverage.) The Tubman Visitor Center is open daily for self-guided tours, 9am to 5pm, except major holidays, and is located at 4068 Golden Hill Rd, Church Creek, MD 21622. Find out about guided tours of the Tubman Visitor Center and the Byway.

New Tubman Visitor Center now open!Jill Jasuta2017-03-14T17:50:17-04:00