Harlem in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Frederick Douglass
1818-1895
Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick Bailey found the way to freedom along the Underground Railroad in 1838. Disguised as a sailor, he travelled to Manhattan by ship, and found shelter in the house of abolitionist David Ruggles on Lispenard Street. There, he awaited the arrival of his fiancée, Anna Murray, a free Black woman from Maryland. They married, and together continued Bailey’s freedom journey to Massachusetts where he changed his name to Douglass. Lauded for his oration, he became a prominent abolitionist and purchased his legal freedom from slavery. Publisher of the abolitionist journal The North Star, he championed freedom for all Americans and endorsed women’s suffrage. Douglass later held posts as the Assistant Secretary of the Santo Domingo Commission (1871), Marshall of the District of Columbia (1877-1881) and U.S. Minister to Haiti (1889-1891). Following the death of his wife in 1884, Douglass married Helen Pitts. He died in Washington, D.C. on February 20, 1895.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is February 20, 1895.
Location. 40° 48.036′ N, 73° 57.491′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Harlem. Marker is on Frederick Douglass Boulevard near Central Park North, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Frederick Douglass Circle, New York NY 10036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Houdini (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); West Side Movers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lafayette-Washington (approx. 0.2 miles away); Morningside Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Anibal Aviles Playground (approx. ¼ mile away); Seligman Fountain (approx. ¼ mile away); Goya (approx. 0.3 miles away); Aesop (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. "Douglass Landing" on the Battery Park City North Esplanade.
Also see . . . Frederick Douglass. Wikipedia biography. (Submitted on April 9, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 24, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6, 7. submitted on September 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.