Montgomery Parks celebrates International Underground Railroad Month and Harriet Tubman’s Bicentennial

WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Celebration with programs at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park on Saturday, September 3, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In 2019, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed September as International Underground Railroad Month. The month recognizes the significance of the Underground Railroad and acknowledges the contribution of all those involved in the abolition of slavery in the United States. September was chosen because this was the month that Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, two of the most celebrated freedom fighters and Underground Railroad operatives, began their journey of self-emancipation. In addition, 2022 marks the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth in Dorchester County, Maryland.

At Montgomery Parks’ Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Celebration attendees can walk along the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Attendees on these forested guided hikes will discover techniques used by people who were enslaved to escape to freedom, such as navigation, eluding detection, and the search for food and shelter on their perilous journey. The two-mile round-trip hike is about an hour-and-a-half along a natural-surface trail and is appropriate for ages 7 and up. The $8 fee includes admission to the Woodlawn Museum. Advance registration is recommended for the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. hikes.

For children, a free take-home activity celebrating Harriet Tubman’s bicentennial will be provided at the Visitor Center throughout the day, while supplies last.

“While Harriet Tubman was never active in this part of Maryland, we believe her story should inspire and generate pride in every Marylander. Our guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail allow visitors to contemplate the risks that freedom seekers took for a chance at freedom. These hikes focus on real Montgomery County freedom seekers. Our free children’s take-home activities, which are designed for ages 5 and up, provide a great opportunity for families to start a dialogue about what freedom means,” explained Cameron Walpole, education program manager at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park.

About Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park is located in Sandy Spring, Md., and includes the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, the Woodlawn Museum, and the Woodlawn Manor House. The Underground Railroad Experience Trail commemorates the involvement of Montgomery County residents in the Underground Railroad and celebrates the Quaker heritage and African American traditions of Sandy Spring. The Woodlawn Museum’s stone barn exhibits tell the story of a bustling farm, its community, and those who made a bold bid for freedom on the Underground Railroad.

About Montgomery Parks          
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. 

Accessibility         
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification.