country roads and drive type harriet tubman underground railroad Journey back in time to pre-Civil War America. Explore the secret network of trails, waterways and safe houses used by enslaved people fl eeing north to escape slavery. ailed as “the Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman was a heroic leader in the fi ght against slavery. Her selfl ess e orts helped more than 70 enslaved people make their way north by way of the Underground Railroad. This Eastern Shore byway traverses a region abundant with African-American heritage, following a mostly northern path across a landscape that has changed little in the 150 years since Tubman and others risked their lives for freedom. 125 miles from cambridge to goldsboro (Maryland Portion) Canal, hand-dug by enslaved people and used to transport timber. Next, explore the new Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. Here you will fi nd exhibits and programs that describe Harriet’s life as an enslaved child and young adult, and her determination and skills that e ectuated her escape. Then, discover the water trails of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and observe nature along Wildlife Drive. In Bucktown, a village store marks the spot where, as a teenager, Tubman, in her fi rst act of defi ance, was nearly killed when she tried to help an enslaved man avoid capture. An overseer struck her head with a two-pound weight, leading to lifelong health issues. Guided historic and nature tours, as well as bike, canoe and kayak rentals, are also o ered in Bucktown. h meeting houses and other landscapes that take travelers back to the 1850s. Visit the Dorchester County Courthouse, which was once the site of slave auctions and trials. Just a short walk away is the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center, dedicated to preserving Tubman’s legacy as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. After the museum, enjoy pleasant dining, galleries and shopping. Cambridge is also in the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area and provides convenient entry points to recreational opportunities on the water. Follow the byway west, and visit Stanley Institute, a one-room, African-American school established by the newly freed black community just after the Civil War. In Madison, Tubman learned navigation and survival skills while working beside her father, Ben Ross. Drive over Joseph Stewart’s Cambridge to Bucktown INCLUDING MD 341, MD 16 & MD 335 Your journey begins inside the Cambridge-based Visitor Center at Sailwinds Park East, where sta members o er insight into the historic landmarks you encounter along the way. What lies outside, beyond the Choptank River Bridge, are museums, home sites, 52 | maryland scenic byways
MD Scenic Byways Digital Guide: Page 52
