This week, Governor Hogan announced a series of free, family-friendly programs in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Harriet Tubman and the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County. Known as the Moses of her people, she was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and led nearly 70 slaves to freedom, making 13 separate trips to Maryland. Tubman also served as a scout, spy, guerrilla soldier, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War. She is considered the first Black woman to serve in the military.

In addition to a schedule of programs and events the weekend of March 11-13, 2022, the park will display numerous artifacts from Tubman’s life—many in public for the first time— throughout the month of March. Visitors will have the opportunity to view a receipt from a midwife for Tubman’s birth, Tubman’s “runaway” advertisement, and items recovered from the site of her father Ben Ross’ cabin, which was recently discovered and excavated by Maryland Department of Transportation archeologists.

Do you have a fun fact to share about your county? If so, please send it to Allison Valliant to be featured in MACo’s weekly Fun Fact on Conduit Street.