Did you know that famous abolitionist and orator 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 Feb. 9, 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 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a self-guided driving tour of Underground Railroad history: Stop #3, the Dorchester County Courthouse, and Stop #4, Long Wharf. The world is celebrating the bicentennial of Douglass’s birth in 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland.
The tour, which runs from 9am to 10:30pm, is led by John Muller, historian and author of “Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia.” Tickets cost $15. Find details and buy tickets.
Cambridge is also home to the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center (Stop #5 along the Tubman Byway), open 12 to 4pm on Saturdays. Also in the area is the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center (Stop #13 along the Tubman Byway), about a 20-minute drive from downtown Cambridge. Both are sites along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
Another interesting event related to Frederick Douglass happens later on Feb 9, when there’s a talk about Douglass’s visit to Denton, Maryland. The talk happens from 1:30 to 3pm at the Caroline County Central Library, 100 Market St., Denton, MD. The talk will be giving by John Muller, who will be leading the walking tour in Cambridge mentioned above. The talk will detail a previously unknown visit that Douglass made to Denton in 1883, when he was welcome by a brass band and spoke at the old county courthouse. Find out more.