Guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring.
International Underground Railroad Month Events
Celebrate International Underground Railroad Month this September by taking a guided tour or attending an event to honor the courageous journeys of famous and lesser-known freedom seekers.
Guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring.
International Underground Railroad Month Events
September 2026
Honor these daring heroes by attending programs and events offered throughout September. Discover stories about people who have triumphed in their fight to overcome oppression. Uncover the myriad ways they found freedom and set the seeds for the ongoing journey toward civil rights.
Maryland sits directly below the Mason-Dixon Line, where freedom and slavery once existed side by side. In this landscape of impossible boundaries, Black Marylanders learned to navigate through movement, making, and profound creativity. They crossed literal and symbolic lines to claim their lives, build vibrant communities, and challenge the nation to live up to its highest ideals. The Lines We Cross is a multi-floor, evocative experience at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum that traces how Black Marylanders have pushed boundaries, broken systems, and shaped the social, cultural and political landscape of America.
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
This featured exhibition runs from July 31, 2026 through October 31, 2027.
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-263-1800
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture
Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass explores how Frederick Douglass’ early life in Talbot County, Maryland, shaped his journey to become a prominent abolitionist, writer and orator. The exhibition is organized around a series of waypoints that guide visitors through key moments and locations from his life, from birth to his later returns as a free man, and how the landscape shaped these experiences. The exhibition outlines the places, routes and timeline of Douglass’ life in the area.
A highlight is an interactive where guests can ask questions and receive a curated response in an authentic voice from a hologram of Frederick Douglass, using rich primary and secondary source material by and about Douglass.
This special exhibition opened on March 5, 2026 and runs through the end of 2027.
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
213 North Talbot Street
St. Michaels, MD 21663
410-745-2916
Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass exhibition at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Walk in the footsteps of freedom seekers and discover their courageous stories. Join us at the Marietta Historic Site & Museum for a powerful month of reflection, remembrance, and resilience. Tours explore self-emancipation and the lives of the Jackson, Duckett, Brown, and Butler families whose journeys to freedom shaped this historic place.
Marietta Historic Site is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
11 a.m. - noon
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September, beginning September 3, 2026
Marietta Historic Site & Museum
5626 Bell Station Road
Glenn Dale, MD 20769
301-464-5291
Self-Emancipators’ History Tour at the Marietta Historic Site & Museum
Join us for a guided tour of the historic house as we interpret the history of people who lived and worked at this former plantation from the house’s construction in 1801 through Emancipation in 1864. Visitors engaged in facilitated dialogue with tour guides while being led through rooms of the historic house and dependency buildings. See the interpretive silhouettes throughout the house that depict actual enslaved workers in each room. The silhouettes were created using descendants of historical individuals as models for the artwork.
Riversdale is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Tours begin on Thursday, September 3, 2026 and are offered every Thursday through Sunday in September
Noon - 1 p.m.
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Please arrive at the Visitor Center 10 minutes prior to the tour to get registered. Pre-registration or walk-ins are welcome.
Adults: $5 per person
Seniors and Groups of 10 or more: $4/person
Ages 5 - 18 and Students with ID: $2/person
Ages 4 & under: Free
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum
4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
301-864-0420
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum
Tours of the Hampton Mansion interpret the lives of the enslaved and describe those who sought their freedom from the Ridgely family. Enslaved people, indentured servants, convict laborers and free workers all contributed to the labor system that sustained Hampton, including the vast Northampton Ironworks, which helped build the Ridgely family’s wealth.
In 1829, Hampton held approximately 377 enslaved people, and over the course of its history, the Ridgelys enslaved more than 500 people. More than 75 of them are known to have sought freedom from Hampton. After taking your tour, walk the grounds and gardens to see the slave quarters and imagine the life and incredible risks taken by so many to find their freedom.
The only way to enter the Hampton Mansion is by guided tour with a ticket, which are available through Recreation.gov. Book your tour by 10 p.m. the night before the tour. Reservation fee: $1 per ticket.
Tours begin on Thursday, September 3, 2026 and are offered every Thursday through Sunday in September.
10 - 11 a.m.
2 - 3 p.m.
3 - 4 p.m.
Hampton National Historic Site
535 Hampton Lane
Towson, MD 21286
410-962-4290 ext. 2
Hampton National Historic Site
Come to a month-long summit honoring the life, legacy, and leadership of Harriet Tubman. Throughout September, attendees will have opportunities to engage in community service in honor of Tubman’s life of service, as well as attend and participate in interactive exhibits, expert panels, workshops, musical performances, prayer vigils and a ribbon-cutting at the new Harriet Tubman Pavilion.
Events include:
- Day of Beautification - Saturday, September 5, 2026 - Clean-up of the Beacon of Hope Harriet Tubman sculpture
- Day of Resilience - Saturday, September 12, 2026 - Includes a drum processional, waterside libations, and ribbon cutting for the Harriet Tubman Pavilion near the “Take My Hand” Tubman mural
- Harriet Tubman Unity Caucus - Friday, September 18, 2026
- A Tribute to General Tubman - Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Commemorate Tubman’s posthumous promotion to brigadier general in 2024 with 250 women veterans
- Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black Lecture - Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Hear reflections from the author of Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War
- Beacon of Hope: Veterans Gala - Saturday, September 26, 2026 - A formal, black-tie event brings together veterans, families and supporters
- Brunch & Resource Day at Patriot Point - Sunday, September 27, 2026 - A retreat that brings together veterans, families and community members
Events are organized by Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation.
Harriet Tubman Summit to be held in Cambridge.
Learn about the experience of 19th century freedom seekers and Montgomery County residents in a guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Discover techniques used for navigation, eluding detection, and finding food/shelter on the perilous journey. Woodlawn Museum admission is included. The Hike covers 2 miles on a natural surface trail, which is not ADA accessible or suitable for all strollers. Content appropriate for ages 7 and up, fee charged for ages 6 and up. $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children. Advance registration recommended at www.ActiveMontgomery.org.
The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
Saturday, September 5, 2026
10 - 11:30 a.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
301-929-5989
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
In this Seeking Freedom Guided Tour, uncover the stories of freedom seekers in the Chesapeake. Living in proximity to the Chesapeake’s marshes, creeks, and rivers, enslaved people used their access and knowledge to self-emancipate.
While you’re there, check out three engaging exhibitions on view at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum: Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad," "Water Lines: Chesapeake Watercraft Traditions, and Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass.
Sunday, September 6, 2026
11 a.m. - Noon
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
213 N. Talbot Street
St. Michaels, MD 21663
410-745-2916
Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad exhibit at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Commemorate 250 years of American independence by delving into diverse narratives and experiences that shaped this country. Through fiction and nonfiction, we'll examine our shared past and its impact on today. This month's book is Sweet Taste of Liberty by W. Caleb McDaniel. The meeting will be held online and facilitated by staff from Josiah Henson Museum and Park. For questions, email [email protected]
The Riley Cabin at Josiah Henson Museum and Park is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-765-8790
History Book Club: Sweet Taste of Liberty will be read at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Historical research on the Underground Railroad is notoriously difficult for multiple reasons. While there is little evidence of an organized Underground Railroad in Howard County, there were local efforts to assist freedom seekers wishing to escape enslavement. If these efforts were made known to local law enforcement, those assisting, enticing, persuading, or inciting these escapes were charged with crimes. The Howard County Historical Society research team focused on these documented cases from our own collections to tell the stories of the brave men and women who attempted to help enslaved people escape to freedom.
Join the research team who led the efforts to complete this exhibit at the Miller Branch Library on Wednesday, September 9th from 6:30-7:30pm. In a panel discussion format, the team will describe the research processes and tell the stories of some of the individuals involved in these attempted escapes.
The Howard County Historical Society is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Facility.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Charles E. Miller Branch Library & Historical Center
9421 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-313-9150
Freedom Seekers Panel Reprise at the Charles E. Miller Branch Library & Historical Center
This lecture will reveal the remarkable story of Paul Edmonson, a formerly enslaved man who built what became one of the largest Black-owned farms in Montgomery County. Learn about his 14 enslaved children, the family’s attempts to escape, and their participation in the abolition movement. Cost is $5 per person.
The Riley Cabin at Josiah Henson Museum and Park is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Thursday, September 10, 2026
6 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-765-8790
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Bear Me Into Freedom: Frederick Douglass and the Struggle for America’s Promise is a tribute to Talbot County’s native son, Frederick Douglass, made more poignant during America’s Semiquincentennial.
The exhibition is a 60-minute immersive experience, a video installation portraying the odyssey of Frederick Douglass from his birth and enslavement in the Eastern Shore’s Talbot County to his life’s work championing abolition, emancipation, and equal rights, and his triumphant return to the county as an elder statesman, having become one of the most consequential figures of the 19th century. Tickets are $10 per person.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Neall House
29 South Washington Street
Easton, MD 21601
Bear Me Into Freedom: Frederick Douglass and the Struggle for America’s Promise exhibition.
Join us at Button Farm for the Tubman Journey to Freedom Experience. Wesley Wofford’s moving sculpture, depicting Harriet Tubman leading a child to freedom, will be exhibited outdoors at our open-air museum during September and October for International Underground Railroad Month and Montgomery County’s 250th commemoration.
The farm will also offer historical artifact displays and a self-guided audio tour of museum grounds, heritage animal displays, the heirloom garden and historical cemetery. Large vehicles, such as motorcoaches, buses and shuttles must make an appointment to access the site.
This self-guided experience includes special programming such as demonstrations, tours and presentations on select dates: September 19, October 3, October 17 and October 31.
Noon - 3 p.m. on Saturdays from September 12 to October 31, 2026.
Button Farm Living History Center
16820 Black Rock Road
Germantown, MD 20874
202-903-4140
[email protected]
Button Farm Living History Center
Step inside Oakley Cabin, a living history museum, and learn about the African-American roadside community that lived, worked and built a life on this historic site from emancipation well into the 20th century. Discover how their traditions, culture and contributions helped shape the surrounding communities, and their story is deeply woven into Montgomery County’s rich history.
Saturday, September 12
Noon - 4 p.m.
3610 Brookeville Road
Olney, MD 20833
Oakley Cabin in Montgomery County
Join a guided tour that explores the lives of freedom seekers through the Arboretum’s restored landscape. The tour will begin with a screening of the documentary film Rooted Wisdom: Nature’s Role in the Underground Railroad and continue on the trails, investigating the methods self-liberators used for concealment, nourishment, and evasion as they escaped enslavement.
Your guide, Mecca Lewis, is an artist and filmmaker exploring Black history who is a contributor to the Rooted Wisdom podcast and worked on the Rooted Wisdom: Nature’s Role in the Underground Railroad documentary film. This program costs $25 for members and $30 for non-members.
Rooted Wisdom is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
1 - 3 p.m.
Adkins Arboretum
12610 Eveland Road
Ridgely, MD 21660
410-634-2847
Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, Maryland
Join us for a guided tour of the grounds at Josiah Henson Museum and Park to learn about the features and artifacts that inform our understanding of Rev. Josiah Henson’s life at the Riley Plantation. This 30-minute tour is appropriate for ages 6 and up. Pre-registration is not required. Cost is $3 per person, available onsite on the day of the tour and does not include admission to the museum.
The Riley Cabin at Josiah Henson Museum and Park is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
1 - 1:30 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-765-8790
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Enjoy a cooking demonstration over the open hearth exploring the Underground Railroad through foodways and history. Discover how 19th-century techniques and ingredients connect to stories of resilience, resistance, and survival in a living history setting.
Riversdale is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Noon - 3 p.m.
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum
4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
301-864-0420
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum’s Dependency building with kitchen
Join us for a Lunch & Learn exploring stories of resistance and freedom tied to the Underground Railroad in the Washington, D.C. region. Author Jenny Masur discusses Heroes of the Underground Railroad Around Washington, D.C., focusing on courage and resourcefulness in aiding freedom seekers. The program includes a Q & A session and book signing.
Riversdale is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Noon - 1 p.m.
Riversdale Historic Site & Museum
4811 Riverdale Road
Riverdale Park, MD
301-864-0420
Heroes of the Underground Railroad Around Washington, D.C.
Claudia Kousoulas and Ellen Letourneau will share stories from their book, A Culinary History of Montgomery County, MD, that explores local historical foodways - how we grow, sell, prepare, and serve food. Recipes, cookbooks, what we ate and how we ate reveal new understandings of community and culture. From the varied diet of Indigenous peoples to the current industrialized, global food chain, the book traces how food has shaped our county. This talk and slide presentation particularly explores cookbooks written a generation apart by Elizabeth Ellicott and Maria Brooke Watkins, and how each collection of recipes reflects life in Montgomery County in their times. $20 admission includes food.
The Riley Cabin at Josiah Henson Museum and Park is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Friday, September 18, 2026
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-765-8790
The Riley Cabin at Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Learn about the experience of 19th century freedom seekers and Montgomery County residents in a guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Discover techniques used for navigation, eluding detection, and finding food/shelter on the perilous journey. Woodlawn Museum admission is included. The Hike covers 2 miles on a natural surface trail, which is not ADA accessible or suitable for all strollers. Content appropriate for ages 7 and up, fee charged for ages 6 and up. $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children. Advance registration recommended at www.ActiveMontgomery.org.
The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
10 - 11:30 a.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
301-929-5989
The Underground Railroad Experience Trail
In this Seeking Freedom Guided Tour, uncover the stories of freedom seekers in the Chesapeake. Living in proximity to the Chesapeake’s marshes, creeks, and rivers, enslaved people used their access and knowledge to self-emancipate.
While you’re there, check out three engaging exhibitions on view at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum: Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad, Water Lines: Chesapeake Watercraft Traditions, and Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
11 a.m. - Noon
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
213 N. Talbot Street
St. Michaels, MD 21663
410-745-2916
Seeking Freedom Guided Tour at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Trace the journey of notable Marylanders and explore their impact both nationally and internationally. This two-hour walking tour, offered in partnership with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation and named a “Heritage Award Winner” by the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, starts at Market House Park across from Annapolis City Dock, where slave ships entered 300 years ago. The Alex Haley statue that marks the significance of the author of Roots and the journey of his ancestor Kunta Kinte is featured.
Symbolically, the stroll continues uphill through local history to the State House and the statue of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Hear of famous Marylanders, such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. Your period-attired guide will highlight the importance of the Underground Railroad in the Chesapeake Bay region. During colonial times, the labor of both the enslaved and free Blacks was the cornerstone upon which the tobacco economy was built. In the 19th century, Maryland was home to more free African Americans than any other state.
Presently, Maryland continues to grow because of the important contributions made by her African-American residents. The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation receives 20% of the proceeds.
Registration required. $25 per adult. $16 per child ages 11 and under.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
1 - 3 p.m.
Watermark Tours
Market House Park
25 Market Space
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-268-7601
Thurgood Marshall Memorial in Annapolis
In celebration of International Underground Railroad Month, Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park invites you to an educational tea party! Join us for afternoon tea in the parlor of Woodlawn Manor. Clarksville Caterers has crafted a menu featuring English tea sandwiches, assorted pastries and fresh fruit. As you sip on a special Woodlawn Blend of tea, learn about local freedom seekers and the Underground Railroad of Montgomery County through a lecture by Education Program Manager, Christian Murgia.
This program is appropriate for ages 12 and up. Admission is $55 per person. Advance registration is required through activemontgomery.org. Registration closes Friday, September 4 at 5 pm. For more information call 301-929-5989.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
2 - 4 p.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
301-929-5989
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
Join Harriet Tubman Tours, River City Cruise Co. and Delmarva Birding Weekends as we go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. During the guided, self-driven tour, we’ll learn about the many daring escapes led by the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. In Caroline County, Harriet Tubman found shelter and assistance as she traveled along the Underground Railroad to Delaware.
The driving route courses through the farms, forests and significant Underground Railroad sites of Caroline County. We’ll also explore the upper reaches of the Choptank River in Denton, during a two-hour cruise aboard a pontoon boat. Downriver, landings and points along the Choptank served as sites for perilous escapes by boat. The shallow waters of the Upper Choptank provided crossings for freedom seekers heading north towards Sandtown, Delaware.
During her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman was intimately familiar with the birds and wildlife of the area. She used an owl call to alert freedom seekers that it was safe to come out of hiding and continue on their journeys. The same species of birds that Harriet Tubman would have known more than 170 years ago still inhabit the fields, forests and marshes. Search for Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings and Orchard Orioles. On the Choptank River, you’ll likely encounter Bald Eagles, Osprey and Great Egrets.
Registration is required. Cost is $100 per person.
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
2 - 6 p.m.
Delmarva Birding
Preston, MD
[email protected]
Boating and Birding the Tubman Byway with Delmarva Birding
During the weekend of September 25 - 27, Historic Sotterley will be offering its guided tours with an extra focus on the stories of strength and resilience that resulted in individuals finding their freedom. You will hear stories of the pursuit of freedom and the self-emancipation of enslaved individuals, despite unfathomable challenges, from this site.
Historic Sotterley’s guided tours allow visitors an intimate perspective on the lives and cultures of those that owned, lived and worked in the historic Manor House, enslaved or free, over three centuries of American history.
Historic Sotterley is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Friday, September 25, 2026 and
Saturday, September 26, 2026
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
2 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
2 - 3 p.m.
Historic Sotterley
44300 Sotterley Lane
Hollywood, MD 20636
301-373-2280
Stories of Resistance and Resilience tours by Historic Sotterley
Frederick Douglass, born into slavery in 1818 in Talbot County, was known to have had the most powerful impact on the American abolitionist movement. His life spanned the Civil War, the end of slavery, and the beginning of segregation.
Frederick Douglass Day honors Frederick Douglass here in his birthplace, Talbot County, Maryland, where his experiences helped form his character, intellect and determination. This full day celebration includes a parade, welcoming ceremony, children’s village, marketplace, exhibits, book signings, geocaching, a keynote speaker and entertainment.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Easton, MD
Frederick Douglass Statue at the Maryland State House
Commemorate America 250 and International Underground Railroad Month. Visit Marietta Historic Site & Museum!
Discover stories from the past as you tour the historic house, the Sankofa Mobile Museum, and the Arts on a Roll Van. Shop local vendors at the Farmers Market and food trucks. Experience the rhythm and energy of Yoruba drumming and dance. Browse the 250th Community Portrait Gallery and take part in a thought-provoking discussion on “The Declaration of Independence & What It Means Today.”
There’s something for every age to see, do and learn. Come be part of the celebration!
Marietta Historic Site is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Marietta Historic Site & Museum
5626 Bell Station Road
Glenn Dale, MD 20769
301-464-5291
Marietta Historic Site & Museum’s Community Day
Celebrate perseverance, education, and the cultural heritage of Africans, African-Americans, and Caribbean people of African descent at the 36th Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival! The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival is a free, family-oriented cultural celebration for all to enjoy live music and dance performances, world foods and artisan vendors, as well as heritage and history of the African Diaspora.
Kunta Kinte was one of 98 enslaved people brought to Annapolis aboard the ship Lord Ligonier in 1767. Despite many years in bondage, he never lost his connection to his African heritage. His great, great, great, great-grandson Alex Haley recorded this history, and the documentary Roots, dedicated to the Haley’s family Griot, reveals this story.
In Gambia, West Africa, where Kunta Kinte was born in 1750, an International Kunta Kinteh Day Celebration is also held, including Diaspora Return Home speeches.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Noon - 7 p.m.
Navy Marine Corps Stadium (Blue Lot)
511 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival held at the Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis.
Step inside Oakley Cabin, a living history museum, and learn about the African-American roadside community that lived, worked and built a life on this historic site from emancipation well into the 20th century. Discover how their traditions, culture and contributions helped shape the surrounding communities, and their story is deeply woven into Montgomery County’s rich history.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Noon - 4 p.m.
3610 Brookeville Road
Olney, MD 20833
Step inside Oakley Cabin, a living history museum in Olney
Experience Concord after dark! Explore the lasting legacies of enslavement in Prince George’s County and learn how African American communities built knowledge systems informed by the land, sea and sky.
All ages welcome! Extend your experience with optional overnight camping under the stars with Outdoor Afro.
Concord Historic Site is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Concord Historic Site
8000 Walker Mill Road
Capitol Heights, MD 20743
301-627-8570
Echoes of the Enslaved: Concord Under the Harvest Moon will be held at the Concord Historic Site.
Learn historical context and techniques used to navigate the way north to freedom including the challenges and opportunities nighttime travel presented. Traverse the trail with the help of stars and moonlight while learning which plants were helpful along the journey.
Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear light colored or reflective clothing. Admission to the Woodlawn Museum is included. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the hike to explore the museum. The hike covers approximately 2 miles and lasts 1 ½ hours. The trail is not accessible. This program is appropriate for ages 15 and up. $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children. Register in advance at www.ActiveMontgomery.org.
The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.
Cost is $8 - $10. Register through activemontgomery.org
Saturday, September 26, 2026
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
16501 Norwood Road
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
301-929-5989
Woodlawn Manor Guided Twilight Trek at the Underground Railroad Experience Trail.
Celebrate Lower Marlboro Freedom Day, a community event honoring enslaved people who pursued freedom from the Lower Marlboro area during the War of 1812. Through walking tours, exhibits, speakers, performances and hands-on activities, visitors will explore how freedom meant different things to different people across American history.
Learn how British forces moving through Southern Maryland created dangerous opportunities for escape, and consider the difficult choices faced by individuals, families, landowners and communities. This event invites all ages to reflect on courage, independence, family, resistance and the continuing meaning of freedom today.
Activities include walking tours, speakers, entertainment, food and exhibits at the historic Lower Marlboro United Methodist Church and Lower Marlboro Hall in Owings. Enjoy the fall weather while celebrating local history and heritage.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lower Marlboro Hall
3911 Lower Marlboro Road
Owings, MD
And
Lower Marlboro United Methodist Church
6519 Lower Marlboro Lane
Owings, MD
Lower Marlboro Freedom Day will be held at the Lower Marlboro Hall and Lower Marlboro United Methodist Church.