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Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman—Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, Civil War spy and nurse, suffragist, and humanitarian. Born into slavery in early 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman rose above horrific childhood adversity to emerge with a will of steel. Owing her success to unique survival techniques honed in the forests, fields and marshes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Tubman transcended victimization to pursue lifelong dreams of freedom, equality, and justice. Named Araminta, or “Minty,” by her parents[...]

Myths & Facts About Harriet Tubman Myth: Harriet Tubman rescued 300 people in 19 trips. Fact: According to Tubman’s own words, and extensive documentation on her rescue missions, we know that she rescued about 70 people – family and friends – during approximately 13 trips to Maryland. During public and private meetings during 1858 and 1859, Tubman repeatedly told people that she had rescued 50 to 60 people in 8 or 9 trips. This was[...]

Before the Civil War, Harriet Tubman repeatedly risked her life to guide more than 70 enslaved people from Maryland’s Eastern Shore into new lives of freedom. She was deeply rooted in values of family, faith and community and dedicated her life to humanitarian causes and continually fought for freedom. Discover Harriet Tubman in her homeland at the HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD VISITOR CENTER near Cambridge. The center is located within the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad[...]

Hundreds of freedom seekers risked their lives to escape from slavery in Maryland. Full of courage and inspiration, more people successfully fled from bondage in Maryland than from any other state. Their heroic stories are plentiful and riveting and are told through the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom sites and through programs and tours that share freedom seekers’ struggles and triumphs. Here you can discover the real Underground Railroad and find out why Maryland[...]

Home to a large population of free and enslaved Blacks, and sympathetic whites, Underground Railroad support grew in Maryland in the years leading to emancipation. Many of the nation’s best-known Underground Railroad leaders emerged in this environment. These agents and untold more guided Underground Railroad passengers to safety and fought for their freedom. Explore their stories at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture and the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum and at the[...]

Civil Rights Journey on the Eastern Shore A visit to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, once home to great Marylanders such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, provides a unique view of the civil rights movement. After crossing the Chesapeake Bay, begin your Eastern Shore civil rights sojourn with a look at segregated schooling in Kent County at the 1890 African American Schoolhouse Museum. In addition to an interpretive marker detailing the history of this segregated site[...]

Beat the Winter Chills with these Maryland Thrills! When the mercury drops, Maryland has got the goods to heat things up. Whether you want to get your blood pumping on the slopes or spend the day snuggled up by the fire in a world-class resort, this list has the perfect Maryland winter fun for everyone. Experience some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the mid-Atlantic on the slopes at Wisp Resort with stunning views[...]

Hundreds of freedom seekers risked their lives to escape from slavery in Maryland. Full of courage and inspiration, more people successfully fled from bondage in Maryland than from any other state. Their heroic stories are plentiful and riveting and are told through the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom sites and through programs and tours that share freedom seekers’ struggles and triumphs. Here you can discover the real Underground Railroad and find out why Maryland[...]

A Dangerous Journey Escaping bondage and running to freedom was a dangerous and potentially life-threatening decision. Making the choice to leave loved ones, even children behind was heart-wrenching. Surviving exposure without proper clothing, finding food and shelter, and navigating into unknown territory while eluding slave catchers all made the journey perilous. At Maryland’s Network to Freedom sites and programs, you can discover personal stories about the ways enslaved people struggled for freedom and how others[...]