A Royal Audience
President Obama and Henson's Legacy
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth received President Obama at Buckingham Palace. Among significant historic items she arranged for him to view was material related to Josiah Henson's visit with Queen Victoria in 1877. About Henson's meeting, the Birmingham Daily Mail wrote: "He, the runaway slave, has lived to be entertained by Queen Victoria in her own royal castle. The whirligig of time does indeed bring about its revenges, and not the least of them is … the ceremony performed at Windsor yesterday."
[Captions:]
The journal of Queen Victoria was among multiple archival documents admired by Prince Philip, First Lady Michelle Obama, America's first African American president, Barack Obama, and Queen Elizabeth II, the great-great daughter of Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria wrote in her official diary about her meeting with Josiah Henson and his second wife Nancy on March 25, 1877 at Windsor Castle. During the visit, she reportedly remarked that she had read his autobiography "with much interest and pleasure."
One of Henson's prized possessions was this framed photograph of Queen Victoria she presented to him in 1877.
Erected 2021 by Montgomery Parks.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR
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Location. 39° 2.633′ N, 77° 7.293′ W. Marker is in North Bethesda, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from Old Georgetown Road (Maryland Route 187) 0.1 miles south of Tilden Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11420 Old Georgetown Rd, Rockville MD 20852, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Return to the Riley Farm (here, next to this marker); Preserving the Riley-Bolten House (a few steps from this marker); The Riley Plantation (a few steps from this marker); The Meathouse: A Food Vault (a few steps from this marker); Farm Road Bed (within shouting distance of this marker); Agriculture on the Riley Plantation (within shouting distance of this marker); Josiah Henson (within shouting distance of this marker); Whose House Was This? (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Bethesda.
More about this marker. The marker is in a screened porch on the grounds of the museum. While screened, the porch is open-air.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on June 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
