Footsteps to Freedom: The Historic Link Between Sacrifice, Triumph, and the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement

Footsteps to Freedom: The Historic Link Between Sacrifice, Triumph, and the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement

NPS

Event Information:

Date: Friday, September 13 and Saturday September 14
Time: 11:30 am – 5 pm and 9 am – 5 pm
Location: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD, 21622
Venue: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Visitor Center
Contact: Emily Welch (443-886-0219) or [e-mail]
Registration: Please click the image to the left or follow the provided link for our online registration form.
Run-of-Show: Footsteps to Freedom Program

Register today for our two-day festival in recognition of 2024 as “Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights” proclaimed by Governor Wes Moore, marking the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as well as commemoration of the annual Harriet Tubman Emancipation Day and International Underground Railroad Month.

Join us for a two-day event of reflection, education, and inspiration as we explore the pivotal moments and heroic figures that have shaped the struggle for freedom and equality.

This event will provide a unique opportunity to delve into the history and legacy of the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movements, celebrating the courage and resilience of those who paved the way for justice.

Join us as we honor the past, recognize the present, and inspire the future. Together, let's walk the Footsteps to Freedom.

 

Footsteps to Freedom Event Map

NPS Image

 

Highlights of the Event:

Meet the performers:
Follow the link to see a descriptive biography of each of the performers.

Seedwork Workshop:
Register today for the Seedwork Workshop on Friday, September 13. The sessions will be held at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. A conversation and workshop "Antigua & Barbuda: Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Heritage" will take place in Tent #4 by master seedwork artists from the Caribbean islands. Also, hands-on techniques of jewelry making will be demonstrated and taught to participants. If you are interested in attending either session, you can register above. Craft materials will be provided.

Harriet Tubman Emancipation Doll Workshop:
Register today for the Harriet Tubman Emancipation Doll Workshop on Saturday, September 14. Sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The program will be conducted in Tent #4 by master artists from the island of Antigua & Barbuda. The artists will instruct and guide participants in the process of making their very own customized Harriet Tubman "topsy-turvey" Emancipation Doll. If you would like to participate in one of the two sessions, you can register below. Doll kits can be purchased from the park's gift shop the day of the workshop (limited quantities exist).

Welcome and Opening Remarks by Superintendent Deanna Mitchell: Park Superintendent Deanna Mitchell will provide opening remarks and introduce dignitaries and partners at the beginning of each day over the course of the festival.

Ranger Programs: Hear from knowledgeable park rangers from a diverse crossection of park sites throughout the United States as they discuss the historical fight for equality and how we can all contribute to a better future.

Children's Discovery Zone: Bring your young ones or unleash your inner child with a diverse assortment of youth centered activities at the Visitor Center courtyard and outdoor picnic pavilion.

Workshops and Activities: Participate in engaging workshops designed for all ages, including storytelling sessions, art projects, and educational activities that highlight the importance of civil rights history.

Live Performances: Enjoy stirring musical and living history performances that capture the spirit of the movements and honor those who have fought for freedom.

Conversations and Panelists: Listen to an extensive lineup of high esteemed panelists and presenters as they discuss a host of intriguing topics ranging from broad African American history, to life experiences, and modern civil rights in America.

 

The requested video is no longer available.

 

Partner Quotes:

 

African American Civil Rights Network

Coming soon***

 

National Park Foundation

Fellowship Coordinator Michelle Ramirez of the National Park Foundation said, “The National Park Foundation is pleased to support the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in the important work to document, preserve, and share the legacy of Harriet Tubman and her commitment to freedom for enslaved people.”

 

National Parks Conservation Association

“The National Parks Conservation Association is honored to join the National Park Service in commemorating Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights." said Senior Regional Director Edward Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association. "The rich storytelling at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park is a powerful place to experience this history, and we know that Footsteps to Freedom will be an emotionally moving, multicultural, and thought-provoking event for park visitors in the region and from around the world.”

 

National Council for the Traditional Arts

Executive Director Blaine Waide of National Council for the Traditional Arts said, "The National Council for the Traditional Arts is proud to once again partner with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, this time on Footsteps to Freedom: The Historic Link Between Sacrifice, Triumph, and the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement. The event will bring together a kaleidoscope of musicians, dancers, performing artists, and artisans to commemorate major moments and figures in our nation’s ongoing pursuit of equality and civil rights for all, including the 60^th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as well as the legacies of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. A testament to the deep web of community partnerships on the Eastern Shore, this joyous program will celebrate the region’s contributions to the long journey to freedom, and the deep currents of artistic tradition that have flowed through African American communities for centuries."

 

Chesapeake Conservancy

President & CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, Joel Dunn said, “Governor Wes More has proclaimed 2024 as Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights, which commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As we celebrate this milestone, we acknowledge that Black stories, voices and figures are integral to the history of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Honoring and amplifying Black history in the Chesapeake with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NHP and other partners is critical to creating equitable, safe and accessible public spaces for all.”

 

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

“The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom is honored to once again partner with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park to commemorate Harriet Tubman and International Underground Railroad Month.” said acting National Program Manager, Daniel Ott of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. “We are ecstatic that this commemorative event will amplify Underground Railroad stories along the Eastern Shore and incorporate "Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights" through the collaboration with another national program, the African American Civil Rights Network.

 

Maryland Park Service

Ranger Angela Crenshaw, the Director of the Maryland Park Service said, “As the former Assistant Manager of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, I am thrilled to partner with the National Park Service for such an important event to commemorate the work that was done by those who came before us. As a Park Ranger, I have a special connection to Harriet Tubman, I take great pride in sharing my knowledge and love of the natural world with our guests. Tubman used her expert naturalist skills to emancipate herself and over 70 people from the system of American Slavery. Along with Tubman’s compassion and her knowledge of the outdoors, the faith and love that drove her to accomplish the unbelievable is what makes her a true American Shero. We are indeed standing on the shoulders of giants! We are walking on paths that were blazed by our ancestors! It is fitting that Governor Moore proclaimed 2024 as Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights as it is the birthplace of some of the most important freedom fighters in our history. Dorchester County is the home of Araminta Ross, it is where she was held in bondage, lived, loved, toiled, and worshipped. I invite you to create a personal connection to Ms. Tubman’s life and legacy by learning her story at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor and then exploring the landscape that shaped her on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway."

 

Choose Clean Water Coalition

“The Choose Clean Water Coalition, on behalf of our more than 300 nonprofit member organizations working for clean water throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, is proud to support the Footsteps to Freedom event,” said Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly. “This festival is an opportunity to remember the history and legacy of the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movements, and celebrate the profound influence of African Americans in the Chesapeake region’s traditions, culture, and communities.”

 

Maryland Humanities

“We at Maryland Humanities are honored to support Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in the organization’s first Footsteps to Freedom event,” says Sarah Weissman, Communications Specialist at Maryland Humanities. “We believe in a strong, equitable Maryland and programs like Footsteps to Freedom are central to arriving there. We commend the wide array of activities planned and the necessary racial equity lens for viewing our state’s past.”