Central Harlem in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Frederick Douglass
1818-1895
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 19, 2019
1. Frederick Douglass Marker
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 fiancιe, Anna Murray, a free Black woman from Maryland. They married, and together continued Baileys 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 womens 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 Central Harlem. It is on Frederick Douglass Circle near Central Park North, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Frederick Douglass Cir, New York NY 10026, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pauli Murray (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Houdini (about 800 feet away); West Side Movers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lafayette-Washington (approx. 0.2 miles away); Morningside Park (approx. Ό mile away); Anibal Aviles Playground (approx. Ό mile away); Seligman Fountain (approx. Ό mile away); Goya (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Blockhouse No. 1 (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
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.)
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 19, 2019
2. Frederick Douglass Circle
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 19, 2019
3. Frederick Douglass Circle
Left panel engraving: “The types of mankind are various. They differ like the waves, but they are one like the sea.”
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 19, 2019
4. Frederick Douglass Circle
Right panel engraving: “
under the flickering light of the North Star, behind some craggy hill or snow covered mountain, stood a doubtful freedom – half frozen – beckoning us to come and share its hospitality.”
Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 19, 2019
5. Frederick Douglass
Engraved into the pavement: Right is of no sex – Truth is of no color – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren
Masthead of The North Star
Photographed by Larry Gertner
6. Frederick Douglass
The centerpiece statue.
Photographed by Usps, 1965
7. Frederick Douglass
United States First-Class Postage
Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 446 times since then and 23 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.
