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 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
this page online
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.)
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 January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 17 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.
