*As published in North Canton Living January 2025
“I would make a home for them in the North, and the Lord helping me, I would bring them all here.” Harriet Tubman
The road narrowed with dark towering trees casting a gloom. I caught glimpses of blue sky but still shivered while traveling through the dense forest. I could not imagine navigating the landscape in the day let alone at night while being chased. Harriet Tubman was the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad leading approximately 70 enslaved people to freedom earning her the title the “Moses of Our People.”
The museum was built near her birthplace in Church Creek, Maryland. She was born enslaved in 1822 in Maryland’s eastern shore as one of nine children. She was separated as a child from her father when her slave owner moved her mother and siblings to Bucktown. Tubman resisted her entire life while dealing with epilepsy from a brain injury when she was hit in the head with a two pound weight. She escaped in 1849 to Philadelphia and returned thirteen times to free more than 70 friends and family so they could live freely together.
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center is a modern building built into the marshes of the eastern coastline. I was prepared for the emotional toll of the visit but didn’t anticipate the pride and inspiration I would feel. Her sheer determination against brutal odds as I followed the path through the museum that laid out what it was like in the early 1800s for a slave.
Dotted among the countryside are roadside historical markers that document her life. I followed the Underground Railroad Experience Trail for its two miles that offered a glimpse into history. The trail begins at Woodlawn Manor and winds through the Rachel Carson Greenway. For a lovely day in June, the traffic was light and pull outs were well marked and easy stops.
“I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” Harriet Tubman
What I Learned
I wrote an essay in grade school on Harriet Tubman. The museum dedicated to her memory provides a richer tapestry of her hardships and fight for freedom.
Harriet Tubman was also an advocate for women’s suffrage. She worked closely with notable suffragists such as Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
In 1862, Harriet Tubman worked in Port Royal, South Carolina to help Union generals recruit black troops working as a nurse. She planned and led a raid along the Combahee River becoming the first woman to do so in US military history. That raid freed more than 750 slaves.
When You Go
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad is a national history park and part of the National Park System. It is free and open year round.
Junior Ranger Program – I always ask for a copy of the Junior Ranger Program at each park I visit. I enjoy the activities and they make interesting souvenirs. You can download a digital copy for your children to work on prior to visiting.
Locally, visit the Spring Hill House in Massillon. On the National Register of Historic Places, Spring Hill House is recognized by the Friends of Freedom Society and the Ohio Underground Railroad Association as an Underground Railroad site.
The Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail documents 48 locations in Ohio that were part of the Underground Railroad. Ohio.org has a downloadable print version of the map.
After visiting Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Site, take a short drive to Assateague Island National Seashore. Assateague is known for its wild ponies that roam the island. Nearby Berlin and Ocean City offer excellent resources for boutique lodging to chain hotels with a variety of lodging. Camping at the National Seashore or the State Park is highly recommended. Do not approach or touch them for your own safety.
If you are looking for a romantic experience, consider stopping nearby at Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery. They offer an excellent lemon inspired wine and charcuterie board.