Maryland's Underground Railroad Story

Hidden in Maryland’s landscapes are the stories of hundreds of freedom seekers who risked their lives to escape slavery. Full of courage and inspiration, more people successfully fled from bondage in Maryland than from any other state.

Southern Maryland’s rolling hills, gentle water-laced peninsulas and sweeping vistas are the setting for this tour through the history of slavery and freedom in Maryland. Uplifted through faith and supported by the love of family, enslaved Marylanders persevered, and some found their freedom.

Working on massive tobacco plantations, farms and waterways, many enslaved men, women and children faced harsh treatment. Unique opportunities allowed some to escape oppression by joining military forces: fleeing to the British Colonial Marines during the War of 1812, or joining the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Some escaped by water. Others took daring risks and fled over land to the North or to Washington, D.C., where they blended into the free Black population on crowded streets.

Explore the collection of Southern Maryland’s Underground Railroad sites, and step back in time to colonial Maryland on the Historic Annapolis Underground Railroad Walking Tour. See mansions where enslaved people toiled, and hear stories of courageous souls who fought for their freedom and hope and resilience resound. You’ll find the echoes of the enslaved live on through the triumphs, burdens and successes of their descendant generations. 

International Underground Railroad Month Events
August - September 2024

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. Kick-off the celebration in late August with a Day of Unity and Healing, and continue honoring these daring heroes by attending a menu of programs and events offered throughout September. Discover people who have triumphed in their fight to overcome oppression, and uncover the myriad ways they found freedom and set the seeds for their descendant’s ongoing journey toward civil rights.

September is International Underground Railroad Month. Learn more about Maryland's courageous freedom seekers and how they found liberty.

At the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and State Park visitors become immersed in Tubman’s world through informative, evocative  exhibits. Drive the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway to explore the secret network of trails, waterways and safe houses used by enslaved people fleeing north to escape slavery, and visit sites along the byway where Harriet's life unfolded.

Born on a farm on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Frederick Douglass chronicled his experiences in slavery and is regarded as one of America's most prominent and influential orators, abolitionists and statesmen. See the places that shaped Frederick Douglass and celebrate his legacy on a driving tour that starts on the Eastern Shore and takes you through Annapolis and Baltimore.

Explore the old Isaac Riley Farm where Reverend Josiah Henson lived and worked while enslaved from 1795 to 1830 and see exhibits about his life, emancipation and achievements. His 1849 autobiography inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's landmark novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum's newest exhibition, “The Underground Railroad: Other Voices of Freedom” uses the work of contemporary artists to tell the stories of the Underground Railroad on the land and waterways at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. "Deep Roots, Rising Waters: A Celebration of African Americans in Maryland” at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum traces the story of African American history in Maryland from 1633 through the Civil Rights Movement.

An urban trail you can follow on foot or by car, Hagerstown’s Underground Railroad Trail, “Sites of Freedom and Resistance,” introduces you to the local agents of the Underground Railroad and lets you follow in the footsteps of the people who traveled this route to freedom. Follow the link below to the brochure and open a window into history.

Now known as a destination for hiking and biking, the C&O Canal Towpath also served as a route to freedom for travelers on the Underground Railroad like James Curry, who made the last leg of his arduous journey from North Carolina along the towpath. The Towpath is an amazing place on its own, but knowing its history as a throughway on the Underground Railroad takes your journey even deeper.

Learn about the Underground Railroad and experience Maryland’s thriving African-American culture at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African-American History & Culture. Located just steps from Baltimore’s world famous Inner Harbor, this living museum is a must visit. And in Annapolis, visit the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. Named for Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, it’s Maryland’s official museum of African-American heritage.

Frederick Douglass, born enslaved in Maryland, was one of the most powerful voices of the abolitionist movement leading to the Civil War, and perhaps the greatest orator in American history. Several tours trace his life and his remarkable legacy through Maryland. Find out more about his bravery and his wisdom on our Frederick Douglass Tours page.