Searching for Harriet Tubman in Dorchester County

17 Photos

After the announcement last month that Harriett Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill “Who is Harriet Tubman?” was a top searched question on Google.

Photos by Kim Hairston

Born into slavery in Dorchester County in 1822, Araminta “Minty” Ross, escaped in 1849 and returned to Maryland over 11 years to lead 70 slaves, including family members, to freedom.

The life of the abolitionist, Union spy, nurse, suffragist has long been celebrated on the Eastern Shore. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway driving tour connects us to the life of this remarkable woman and to the region. There are 125-miles to explore on this self-guided tour that take you to places Tubman traveled, landscapes she would recognize and places that honor her legacy. Next year there will be another place to visit. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park, just outside the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge will open in March.