Explore Black history in Dorchester County

Travel back in time in Dorchester County 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. For instance:

Harriet Tubman

The Underground Railroad hero was born into slavery here in Dorchester County in the 1820s. 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 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway self-guided driving tour, which includes sites related to Tubman and other freedom seekers in the 1800s. Don’t miss the free audio guide, now featuring virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. Learn more

Civil Rights Movement

Tie up your walking shoes to see where civil rights history was made in Cambridge’s Pine Street community, home of pioneering civil rights leader Gloria Richardson in the 1960s. Take the two-mile, self-guided Pine Street Walking Tour in person or read the brochure from your armchair. Order the hardcopy brochure 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.

Historic one-room schoolhouse

Visit Stanley Institute, one of Maryland’s oldest schools organized and maintained by a Black community. This restored 1865 one-room schoolhouse in Cambridge, Maryland, is open by appointment only. Learn more and watch the Virtual 360 Video Tour.

Spocott Windmill & Village

Learn about the Wheatleys, a couple who lived at what is now Spocott Windmill & Village staring 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

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.