Cambridge in Dorchester County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Harriet Tubman Memorial Garden
Celebrating an Icon
— Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway —
The local community, joined by others across the nation, honors its native daughter, Harriet Ross Tubman. Her memory endures through artistic expression in works of literature, music, sculpture, paint, photography, performance, and more.
Today’s descendants of enslaved and free blacks, as well as slave owners, continue to live and work in the area. There are relatives of some who escaped to freedom and descendants of Tubman’s family. One Tubman relative, Charles E. T. Ross, designed and painted the park’s mural in honor of his ancestor.
[Caption:]
Right: In early 2012, members of Harriet Tubman’s family gathered to unveil a wax figure of their ancestor at Madame Tussauds in Washington, DC. The remarkable likeness later traveled to Cambridge and was briefly on display at the Harriet Tubman Organization. Here Valery Ross Manokey, Tubman’s great-great-grand-niece and closest living relative, poses for a picture with the figure.
“Her tales of adventure are beyond anything in fiction and her ingenuity and generalship are extraordinary. I have known her for some time—the slaves call her Moses.”
Letter from Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 1859
Erected by America's Byways; Maryland Heritage Area Authority . (Marker Number 2.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2012.
Location. 38° 33.582′ N, 76° 3.798′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Maryland, in Dorchester County. Marker is at the intersection of Washington Street (Maryland Route 343) and Ocean Gateway (U.S. 50) on Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cambridge MD 21613, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Agents on the Underground Railroad (here, next to this marker); Abolitionist, Scout, Spy, and Nurse (within shouting distance of this marker); Born To Be Free (within shouting distance of this marker); Goldsborough Stable (approx. half a mile away); Neild Museum (approx. half a mile away); Annie Oakley Lived Down The Street (approx. half a mile away); Turning Numbers into Names… (approx. half a mile away); Robbins Heritage Center (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cambridge.
Also see . . . Harriet Tubman: American hero. Dorchester website entry (Submitted on May 6, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 27, 2022
1. Adjacent Markers
There are six other markers surrounding this small park detailing the life of Harriet Tubman. Unfortunately they have deteriorated and are mostly unreadable.
— Submitted August 26, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 27, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 718 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on November 11, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on August 28, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on November 25, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on June 11, 2016, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.