ANNAPOLIS, MD—A new roadside historical marker honoring the life and legacy of Maryland native Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, was unveiled this week by Governor Wes Moore. The marker stands less than three miles from Tubman’s birthplace on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and commemorates her early life and profound connections to her family and community.
“We continue the work of honoring General Harriet Tubman through this historic marker, recognizing the place of her birth,” Gov. Moore said. “For generations to come, residents and visitors alike will pass by here and learn of Tubman’s legacy.”
Born to enslaved parents around 1822 on Anthony Thompson’s farm in Dorchester County, Tubman’s formative years were shaped by the brutal realities of slavery. During her teenage years, she worked alongside her father, Ben Ross, mastering navigation of wooded wetlands and developing crucial survival skills. Her community included Black watermen who utilized local waterways to facilitate a secret communication network, ultimately guiding Tubman and 70 others to freedom.
In 2021, archaeologists with the Maryland Department of Transportation located Ben Ross’s home after an extensive search. Using historical documents to pinpoint a search area, archaeologists excavated 1,000 holes along a historic road before uncovering an 1808 coin and a collection of broken 19th-century ceramic sherds. For the past four years, researchers have been processing hundreds of artifacts from Ross’s home, which is situated deep within the wetlands of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Tuesday’s unveiling of the Tubman roadside marker follows the launch of a virtual museum in March, designed to share the history and display artifacts from the site where the famed abolitionist spent her teenage years.
“This marker is an opportunity to recognize the faith and resilience of people who were forced to adapt to horrible conditions in order to survive,” said Tina Wyatt, Harriet Tubman’s great-great-great grand niece. “It also provides a space to recognize the daughter-father relationship between Harriet and Ben.”
Following the formal unveiling, attendees viewed artifacts from Tubman’s birthplace. Community members, Dorchester County officials, and state leaders gathered to celebrate the event, acknowledging Tubman’s invaluable contributions and emphasizing the importance of establishing permanent state monuments to recognize significant Maryland figures, places, and events.
“The unveiling of the Harriet Tubman Birthplace Marker is more than the dedication of a sign; it is a powerful tribute to the legacy of courage, sacrifice, and unyielding determination that Tubman represents,” said Tonet Cuffee, a relative of Ben Ross.
The new roadside marker, located near the Woolford Country Store along MD 16, is part of a broader initiative by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Historical Trust to increase the number of markers highlighting the state’s previously untold stories.
“Harriet Tubman’s courage and dedication to the pursuit of freedom for all, continues to inspire Marylanders,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld.
For more information on the Maryland Roadside Historical Marker program visit mdot.maryland.gov.
