- Group Size 6 People Maximum
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Travel Style
Communities Up Close
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Trace the trails of abolition blazed by Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and the 19th-century Black communities they drew from. Beginning in Cambridge, Maryland, we’ll learn about Tubman’s early life in Dorchester County, where, after escaping from slavery, she returned thirteen times to usher 70 enslaved people to freedom. We’ll step inside the shop where she first defied her white oppressors and visit a former safe house along the Underground Railroad. Journeying north, we’ll visit Easton, where Frederick Douglass met the free Black individuals living and working in the Hill Community, escaped from slavery, and came back decades later to deliver a speech next to the jail in which he’d once been incarcerated. While our two days together will be largely dedicated to Tubman and Douglass, we’ll visit Methodist churches, centuries-old schoolhouses, and residential neighborhoods, casting an ear to the stories of the countless Black community members who contributed to the rich historical fabric of Maryland’s abolitionist movement.
Note on Safety:
We’ve designed this two-day trip with current health and safety precautions in mind. To maintain adequate physical distancing, participants will be traveling in their own vehicles and will reserve their own accommodations. Staff and participants will be expected to follow the latest CDC guidelines, which include wearing face masks in public and group settings, and keeping six feet of distance between parties who are not traveling together. Visit our Trips FAQ for more information, and feel free to contact us directly with any questions.
- Stories and sites chronicling the early life of Harriet Tubman
- History of Frederick Douglass’s later years as a writer and orator
- Visit to an Underground Railroad safe house
- Tour of a community built by and for free Black individuals in the 1780s
- Visit to historic Black schoolhouses, churches, and neighborhoods
Itinerary
Day 1: Harriet Tubman
We have lots of stories to cover today, so be sure to arrive early. Meet with your guide and fellow trip-goers at the visitor center for introductions and a brief orientation before heading together to the Dorchester County Courthouse and Long Wharf, a site that once served as the port of entry for enslaved people taken from Africa and the Caribbean. Until the transatlantic slave trade was abolished in 1808, trading vessels docked here along the shore.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center, one of the oldest community organizations dedicated to Tubman, as well as the Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, which serves as the gateway to the Harriet Tubman Byway. We’ll stop at the Stanley Institute, a schoolhouse built and operated independently by the local Black community from 1865 to 1966, as well as the Bucktown Village Store, the site of Tubman’s first documented act of resistance as a teenager, and where she suffered a violent blow to the head that led her to struggle with epilepsy for the rest of her life.
We’ll pause for lunch, served take-out style, taking a moment to reflect and ask questions. Later in the afternoon, we’ll head to Leverton House, an important sanctuary along the Underground Railroad, and Jonestown, a community of free Black individuals established by Jenkins Jones prior to the Civil War. We’ll wrap up back at the visitor center, and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to yourself. Your guide will be happy to recommend a number of things to do in the area, such as kayaking along the Chesapeake Bay, visiting the Richardson Maritime Museum, and checking out the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Not included (recommendations can be provided)
Lunch
Day 2: Frederick Douglass
Today is dedicated to Frederick Douglass—and more specifically his return, as a free individual and widely influential orator, back to the area where he’d been enslaved throughout childhood and early adulthood. We’ll spend the morning in Easton visiting The Hill Community, a neighborhood and haven for free Black individuals. Founded in the 1780s, more than 80 years before the end of the Civil War, the community was a neighborhood in which formerly enslaved people owned land, built businesses, and purchased the freedom of family members. Descendants of The Hill Community’s first residents still live here today, though their stories have largely been omitted from mainstream education, historical research, and media. During this morning’s tour, we’ll learn about The Hill Community Project, the Talbot Historical Society, and the Housing on The Hill initiative—all of which have collaborated over the past decade to research the rich history and significance of this neighborhood, investing in historic preservation while also providing affordable housing for its citizens.
Frederick Douglass’s early interactions with free Black individuals here in Talbot County, and later in Baltimore, influenced his own path forward. We’ll spend the afternoon learning about his escape from slavery; his journey to becoming a prominent orator, writer, and leader of the abolitionist movement; and his relationship to the region. Though he lived in the north following his escape, and later traveled abroad, he eventually returned to the area, this time to D.C., where he spent his final years in his Anacostia home.
As we walk through Easton, we’ll have the chance to see several still-standing historical institutions central to Douglass’s life, from the Talbot County Jail, where he was briefly incarcerated, to the courthouse, where he returned to deliver his “Self-Made Men” lecture later in life. We’ll also visit two historic Black Methodist congregations, Asbury United Methodist Church and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which took strong abolitionist stances throughout the 19th century. We’ll say our goodbyes around 4 p.m. and head homeward. Alternatively, stick around for a few more days. These streets are steeped in stories, and while we’re only able to share some of them over the course of these two days, we hope your time here inspires you to dig deeper yet into this history.
Not included (recommendations can be provided)
Lunch
Trip Leader
The total cost of this trip is $420 per person. Note that participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodations.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip.
Accommodations for this weekend trip are not included; we encourage locals to join us, and would like to provide participants with as much flexibility as possible. There are motels, hotels, campsites, and boutique B&Bs in the Cambridge, Maryland area, and we’d be more than happy to provide recommendations based on preferences and price points.
You'll need your own means of transport for both days of this trip, as we’ll be driving caravan-style between locations. The tour begins promptly at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Dorchester County Visitor Center. If you’re joining from out of town, we recommend you arrive the night before to ensure you’ll be able to make the 9 a.m. start time without issue. Our trip concludes on Sunday at 4 p.m. From here, you can depart for home or, if you'd like to extend your trip, we’d be happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the area on your own.
Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to four miles over the course of each day, spending most of the day outdoors, and remaining on their feet for long periods of time, including walking on uneven terrain. We encourage participants to bring a water bottle, some snacks, a hat, and sunscreen, as we’ll be spending two very active, outdoor days together.
- All meals described in the itinerary.
- An experienced guide accompanying you for the duration of the trip.
- Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events.
- A great group of fellow Atlas Obscura travelers, excited to deepen their understanding of Maryland's history.
- 24/7 emergency assistance during your trip, provided by Global Rescue.
- Built-in donation to the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center.
- Special access to unique places and extraordinary experiences.
- Transportation to Cambridge, Maryland and from Easton, Maryland, as well as during the tour.
- Accommodations throughout the trip.
- Pre- and post-trip accommodations.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Additional meals and drinks outside of Atlas Obscura offerings, including alcoholic beverages.
Trip FAQ
What will the weather be like?
Summer in Maryland is warm, with daytime temperatures in July and August in the 80s (°F), dropping to the mid-60s at night, while humidity can reach 70 percent, and rainfall generally at least once per week. In the autumn, daily temperatures are closer to the 60s (°F), dropping lower at night.
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated as long as we’re notified in advance, though in most cases ingredients can't be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. The trip includes two lunches, though you’re also welcome to bring your own. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us in advance, and be sure to include this information in your reservation form.
What positive impact will I have by taking this trip?
In addition to contributing to small businesses and local economies in less touristed areas, your trip helps preserve and share an important part of the country’s history, and the impactful roles of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from your trip will be donated to the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center.
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