Josiah Henson Museum and Park seeks to educate the public about the life of Reverend Josiah Henson, including his challenges and accomplishments, slavery in Maryland, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality through its exhibits and programs.
Who Was Reverend Josiah Henson?
Reverend Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Maryland in 1789. Over the course of his life, Henson endured unimaginable hardships. He was enslaved on the plantation property of Isaac Riley in what is now North Bethesda, Maryland, and the site of the Josiah Henson Museum and Park.
In 1830, Henson escaped with his wife and children to Canada. Henson’s became an influential author, abolitionist, and public speaker. He helped establish Dawn Settlement, a community inhabited by former American slaves and he repeatedly returned to the United States to guide 118 others to freedom as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Henson’s 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s landmark anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Stowe’s novel broke all sales records of the time, and many believe the novel helped to propel the Civil War.
Josiah Henson was a freedom fighter. His legacy is an important part of American history.
Visit Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Exhibits and Experience
The Josiah Henson Museum and Park is located on the grounds of the former plantation
where Henson was enslaved. The site includes a Visitor Center, historic house with
attached log kitchen, and a 4-acre landscaped park.
Visitor Center – Guests begin their visit at the Visitor Center, which includes an 80-person multipurpose theater featuring a 12-minute orientation film, My Name is Josiah Henson, indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits, and an eclectic museum shop.
Historic Riley-Bolton House – Visitors continue to the Riley-Bolten House where they embark on a self-guided tour of interactive exhibits and artifacts. Key moments of Henson’s life story, from enslavement to freedom, are brought to life through dramatic illustrations.
Log Kitchen – Attached to the house, the log kitchen which dates to 1850, provides a poignant glimpse into the daily lives of those who were enslaved on the plantation. An interactive audio display allows visitors to hear accounts of individuals that experienced bondage in settings like this one.
Landscaped Park – The tranquil park area surrounding the buildings features mature trees, including a Montgomery County Champion dogwood, green lawns, picnic tables, and an accessible paved pathway with outdoor interpretive exhibits that highlight the site’s archaeological findings.
Accessibility: The grounds and building interiors are fully accessible; however, several historical elements may not be physically accessible. Parks staff will assist in providing equivalent interpretation when requested.
The Josiah Henson Museum & Park is part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.
Getting to the Museum
Parking is available only at Wall Local Park/Kennedy-Shriver Aquatic Center located across the street, one and a half blocks away at 5900 Executive Boulevard, North Bethesda.
Limited accessible parking is available on site in front of the museum.
Cycling: There are bicycle lanes on either side of Old Georgetown Road, and bike racks are available at the Visitor Center. Please bring your own lock and do not bike on the path through the park.
Transit: The Red Line Metro stop at North Bethesda is 0.6 miles away, and Ride On Route 26 has a stop within 50 yards of the Visitor Center.
Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, Ontario, Canada
Trace Reverend Henson’s footsteps to his final home in Ontario Canada. Visit Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History to learn more about Reverend Henson’s life and work at Dawn Settlement in Canada.
My hope is that people will come to understand who the Rev. Josiah Henson truly was, a man of tremendous strength, intelligence, loyalty, and of great faith. That individuals will walk away understanding the current use of “Uncle Tom” as a derogatory term is not at all who the real Uncle Tom was. The real Uncle Tom was a Hero, a family man, a man who risked his life on countless occasions by helping others escape slavery. A man to be Proud of. This platform will help to change the current narrative with so many and teach upcoming generations of his life and the many contributions he made to the US and Canada.
Mia M. Lewis
Josiah Henson’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter
Listen to Mia Anderson’s recent reflection on the Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms podcast: