Wheaton, Md. – Montgomery Parks is commemorating Maryland Emancipation Day with programs at four historic sites on weekends in November. The events offer a chance to learn and reflect on the freedom that came on November 1, 1864, when Maryland adopted a new state constitution that abolished slavery. Programs include free museum admission, interactive storytelling, a guided hike along the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, and an educational afternoon tea. Event details are listed below.
Maryland Emancipation Day at Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Sunday, November 1, noon to 4 p.m.
Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda
Visit the museum during regular hours and explore the life and legacy of Reverend Josiah Henson. Admission is free in commemoration of Maryland Emancipation Day. No registration is required. Parking is available at Wall Local Park, 5900 Executive Boulevard.
Maryland Emancipation Day at Oakley Cabin
Saturday, November 7, noon to 4 p.m.
Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park, 3610 Brookville Road, Olney
Celebrate freedom through interactive storytelling, living history interpreters, US Colored Troops reenactors, hands-on activities, conversation, and tours of the historic cabin. Admission is free. There will be 30-minute timed tours of the cabin at 12:30, 2:15, and 3:15 pm, and readings of the Reconstruction Amendments at 1, 2, and 3 pm.
Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration at Woodlawn Manor
Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, 16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring
Enjoy free admission to the Woodlawn Museum. Check in at the Visitor Center.
11 a.m. to noon: Juanita Sealy Williams and Dianne Bradley of the Montgomery History Speakers Bureau present “Before it was Leisure World, it was the Edmonson Farm.” The program shares the story of Paul Edmonson, a freedman who fought for the freedom of his wife
and 14 children. Admission is $8 per person. Advance registration is recommended through ActiveMontgomery and closes at noon Friday, November 6. A limited number of tickets will be available at the Visitor Center on the day of the event.
1 to 2:30 p.m.: Take a guided hike on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children. Advance registration is available through ActiveMontgomery a limited number of tickets will be available on the day of the event. Check in at the Visitor Center.
Maryland Emancipation Day at Harper Cabin
Sunday, November 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
Thomas Harper Cabin, 1400 Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton (at Brookside Nature Center)
Celebrate freedom through interactive storytelling, US Colored Troops reenactors, hands-on activities, conversation, and tours of the historic cabin. Admission is free. There will be 15-minute timed tours of the cabin at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm, and readings of the Reconstruction Amendments at 1, 2, and 3 pm.
Tea at Woodlawn Manor
Saturday, November 14, 2 to 4 p.m.
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, 16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring
Continue the commemoration of Maryland Emancipation Day with afternoon tea in the manor’s parlor, featuring English tea sandwiches, assorted pastries, fresh fruit and locally sourced tea. A lecture explores the aftermath of the Civil War and what freedom meant for formerly enslaved people in Montgomery County after 1864. Admission is $55 per person. Advance registration is required through ActiveMontgomery and closes Friday, October 30, at 5 p.m. Manor House doors open at 1:45 p.m.
Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages 417 parks and more than 37,000 acres of parkland. Our parks, programs, and facilities promote physical activity, social connection, and environmental stewardship. As part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible park experiences. M-NCPPC has been stewarding public lands since 1927 and has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services.
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/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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