Harriet Tubman, the well-known conductor of the Underground Railroad, aided her family and friends in their escape from slavery in 13 separate trips through Maryland. Harriet also gave instruction to another 70 or so self-emancipated slaves from the Eastern Shore who found their way to freedom on their own. How was Harriet able to navigate the wetlands and woods of the Chesapeake Bay so successfully? She relied on her skills as a naturalist. This skillset aided her in knowing how deep the water flowed, how to signal by hooting like an owl, which herbal remedies to choose to aid in healing wounds and relieving sickness, and how to travel by the stars, just to name a few.
Let’s take a deeper look at Harriet Tubman’s life with a ranger-led tour at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. We will learn the stories that connect the cultural resources to the natural landscapes on the Eastern Shore while exploring the visitor center displays and watching the featured theater presentation. We will learn why the location of the museum was chosen, the history of the Jacob Jackson site, and Caroline County and its role in Tubman’s story.
Created through a presidential proclamation in 2013, the visitor center serves as a national monument and opened in March 2017. Congress created the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in December 2014. The difference between the two distinctions is that Congress creates national parks through legislation and National Monuments are created through presidential proclamation. The visitor center is co-managed by a unique partnership between the National Park Service and Maryland State Parks.
After finishing up at the park, we will drive into the town of Cambridge for lunch and an afternoon stop at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. We will tour their collection with their director, Bill Jarmon, who will also take us to learn about the city’s courthouse. We’ll view the Tubman mural, which went viral when it was unveiled in 2019.
For our evening portion of the trip, we’ll explore our galaxy with The Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge group and their permanent telescope at the Blackwater visitor center. Retired astrophysicist Harry Heckathorn uses the telescope as a sensitive digital camera, using RF transmission and WiFi technology to control the telescope and operate the digital camera from within the building. This technology allows us to view available planets, their satellites, star clusters, colorful multiple-star systems, gaseous nebulae, and distant galaxies in real-time, inside a controlled environment with comfortable seating and a 75-inch TV. The evening will end with a constellation tour outside for anyone wishing to brave the outdoor temperature. Red flashlights will be provided, but no seating is available outside. Photos taken from our show will be available to anyone who provides an email address. The use of the telescope depends critically on the weather, requiring a clear sky, low wind velocity, and low dew formation. If the predicted weather turns unfavorable, cancellation is possible up to and including the morning of the event.
This field experience is the first day of two for our Explore the Eastern Shore overnight trip. Day 2 of Explore the Eastern Shore is a tour through Blackwater NWR to photograph migrating birds with award-winning photographer Barbara Saffir. Information can be found here: https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event-5491715. You may register for one or both days. Overnight accommodations are available at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort for the discounted price of $119 plus tax (with resort fee waived). You will receive booking info after registering for the program. The reduced rate is available through Dec. 21. After that, the full rate charge will be $261 per night.
Cancellation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences – Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the field experience will receive a refund (minus a 5% processing fee). Cancellations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend. Policies regarding the cancellation of the hotel room can be found in your room booking agreement. NHSM will not manage your hotel booking or cancellation.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.