Travel back in time in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore this February – or any time of year – to meet the pioneers, patriots, and freedom fighters who changed the course of history. The birthplace of Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman, and home of civil rights icon Gloria Richardson, Dorchester’s cultural tapestry has been inspired by generations of Black leaders, enslaved people, and ordinary citizens. We've featured some below. There are also some special happenings in honor of Black History Month:
Things to Do This Black History Month 2026
Special Programming at Harriet Tubman State Park & Visitor Center
Every weekend in February
Special programming at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center in Church Creek, Maryland happens every weekends in February. Also, the Tubman Visitor Center offers a Junior Ranger program and an Eastern Shore Explorers program – ask at the front desk.
- Feb. 1, 11am-3pm: Traditional children’s games and crafts. Marbles, mandala, jacks, yarn dolls.
- Feb. 8, 11am-3pm: Traditional children’s games and crafts. Marbles, mandala, jacks, yarn dolls.
- Feb. 14, 1pm: Black History in Maryland State Parks; Past, Present, and Future. A program with the Director of the Maryland Park Service, Angela Crenshaw.
- Feb. 15, 2-4pm: Crowned in Culture. Join Danielle Johnson, Senior Cosmetologist, for a program highlighting the history and cultural significance of hair and beauty in African and African-American communities. The interactive event includes a panel discussion on hair health, styling, and trends, followed by a live model showcase.
- Feb. 21 and 22, 11am-3pm: Traditional children’s games and crafts. Marbles, mandala, jacks, yarn dolls.
- Feb. 28, 2pm: Enjoy a magic show form Dorchester County’s finest, Gilbert Cephas, descendant of Jacob Jackson.
Evolution of Music
Feb. 5, 6-9pm
Warm up your winter music featuring Native flute, African drumming, Colonial English Chamber songs, and a journey through 19th century to modern blues and jazz. Ending with a special performance by Jayla Elise of her song "Dorchester Dreams." At 447 Venue, 447 Race St., Cambridge. Buy tickets.
Living “History: Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came"
Feb. 24, 5:30-7pm
Professional actor Darius Wallace brings Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins to life to portray his journey from the fields of slavery to the drums of war, to his triumphant creation of Maryland’s first Emancipation Day Celebration in 1867. At Cambridge South Dorchester High School in Cambridge. Free admission!
Legacy Reconnected: Maryland-Liberia Sister Relationship
Feb. 28, 2pm
Join in for the announcement: A Sister State/County/City relationship is being forged between Maryland (with special focus on Cambridge and Dorchester County) and Liberia. This special Maryland 250 event celebrates deep historical connections—including that of Cambridge native Stephen Allen Benson, who became the second President of Liberia—and marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy, shared heritage, and global bridge-building. Hosted by Eastern Shore Network for Change. At Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church, Cambridge, MD
Black History in Dorchester County
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Harriet Tubman
The Underground Railroad hero was born into slavery here in Dorchester County more than 200 years ago. She escaped, then returned more than a dozen times to lead friends and family to freedom – risking her life each time. Experience stories of hope and redemption along the scenic road trip known as the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, which includes sites related to Tubman and other freedom seekers in the 1800s. Don’t miss the free guide and the free audio app, which uses dramatic narrations and virtual reality and augmented reality features to bring the history to life. Learn more
Handsell Historic Site
Head to the historic Handsell property in Vienna, Maryland, which shares a three-pronged story through history that includes African Americans, Native Americans, and European settlers. Their research team has compiled information on 214 enslaved individuals associated with Handsell in Dorchester County and Anne Arundel County. Handsell's Enslaved Community Database is a comprehensive list of enslaved persons who are connected with the Rider-Billings-Steele families of Dorchester and 19th century owners of Handsell plantation. Read more about the African American story at Handsell.
Civil Rights Movement and Historic Pine Street
Tie up your walking shoes to see where civil rights history was made in Cambridge's Pine Street community, a historic African-American neighborhood and home of pioneering civil rights leader Gloria Richardson in the 1960s. (Richardson passed away in 2021.) Take the two-mile, self-guided Pine Street Walking Tour in person or read the brochure from your armchair. Browse or download the PDF. And don't miss the free audio guide, with narrators sharing firsthand memories. Also, see the African American Heritage Mural in Cambridge, part of the Chesapeake Mural Trail.
Spocott Windmill & Village
Learn about the Wheatleys, a couple who lived at what is now Spocott Windmill & Village starting in the mid-1800s. The husband Columbus was a Civil War veteran and master craftsman; his wife Adaline was a renowned cook and giver of sage advice. Learn more.
Stanley Institute One-Room Schoolhouse
Stanley Institute is one of Maryland’s oldest schools organized and maintained by a Black community. Learn more about this restored 1865 one-room schoolhouse in Cambridge, Maryland, and watch the virtual 360 video tour. Across the street from Stanley is Christ Church, a restored church that the local Black community built in 1875. It's one of the oldest surviving African American churches from the post-Civil War period on Maryland's lower Eastern Shore.
Historic Black Churches
Dorchester County is home to several historic Black churches, including:
Malone’s Church, which features the graves of many of Harriet Tubman’s family members, including her nephew and in-laws, and several civil war veterans. Plans are currently in the works to restore the church.
Bethel AME Church, the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, which was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in Cambridge, serving as a meeting place for congregants to strategize, and plan their sit-ins and their walks through Cambridge.
Faith United Methodist Church, founded by the Rev. Sam Green, who also served as an Underground Railroad agent, helping Harriet Tubman and many others to freedom.
Explore these and other religious sites through a self-guided tour pamphlet and/or a free cell phone app. More info.
Interactive Highways to History Tour
Four stops along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway are featured in the interactive Highways to History Tour created by the Maryland State Highway Administration! The map showcases significant locations that celebrate Black history throughout Maryland. According to the SHA, "This initiative is designed to educate travelers, promote cultural awareness, and inspire exploration of our shared history." See the map.
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