September: International Underground Railroad Month
PHILADELPHIA, PORTER & COATES, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION // NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLICATION
For many states, September represents International Underground Railroad Month. Maryland’s Office of Tourism initiated this commemoration in 2019, when Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed September as International Underground Railroad Month. In 2020, the states Maryland and Michigan were trailblazers in the effort to include more states in this celebration, working with the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to connect with verified Underground Railroad sites, facilities, and programs from across the United States.
In September 2021, Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends have partnered with local outfitters to explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Southern Delaware by boat, kayak and on foot. September is also a great month for experiencing fall migration, so the birding on these trips should be spectacular!
Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends are proud to work with Freedom Birders, a racial justice education project built on inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and #BlackBirdersWeek 2020.
Register today for one of our tours during International Underground Railroad Month!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30: we have a morning tour and an afternoon tour, but the afternoon is sold out.
Birding the Harriet Tubman Byway: Blackwater NWR and Dorchester County (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $65/person
Meeting location: small roadside pull-off at the Brodess Farm Site, located near 2881 Greenbrier Road, Bucktown, MD 21613. The GPS Coordinates are: 38.459031,-76.048522
Join Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends as we go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Dorchester County, MD. During our guided, self-driven tour, we’ll learn about the life and times of the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. The route courses through the farms and Chesapeake Bay marshes of Dorchester County, home to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and some of the best birding and Bald Eagle watching on America’s Eastern Seaboard.
Click here for more information about this tour.
Birding & Boating the Harriet Tubman Byway: Caroline County & Choptank River Boat Cruise (DRIVING/BOAT CRUISE)
Time: 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $85/person
Meeting location: small roadside pull-off at at Linchester Mill, located at Route 331 and Linchester Road in Preston, MD. The GPS Coordinates are: 38°42’05.0″N 75°53’50.5″W.
THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT.
Join Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends as we go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Caroline County, MD. During the first two hours of our guided, self-driven tour, we’ll learn about the many daring escapes led by the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. In Caroline County, Harriet Tubman found shelter and assistance as she traveled along the Underground Railroad to Delaware.
The driving route courses through the farms, forests and significant Underground Railroad sites of Caroline County until we arrive at River Run Cruises in Denton, MD. From there, we will explore the upper reaches of the Choptank River during a two-hour cruise aboard a pontoon boat. Downriver, landings and points along the Choptank served as sites for perilous escapes by boat. The shallow waters of the Upper Choptank provided crossings for freedom seekers heading north towards Sandtown, DE.
Click here for more information about this tour.
Please note the following:
- Please bring a $5-$10 tip for the First Mate on the Choptank River boat tour.
- Please make sure you have enough fuel in your vehicle for the driving tours, as we will not stop at gas stations along the route.
- We may need to cancel a tour in the event of dangerous weather. If we do cancel, we will notify you via email and offer full refunds.
- Please click this link to review our COVID-19 safety guidelines and additional tips to ensure that you have a great experience!
Some common sense approaches to make your summer birding and boating trips more enjoyable:
- Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for late summer/early fall weather on the water!
- Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
- Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine.
- Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
- Most trips are not appropriate for young children. Please use your discretion when registering.
- Be courteous to your fellow birders. Speak quietly and turn off cell phones during trips.
- During COVID-19, restroom facilities are limited on many trips. Portable toilets are available at many of our birding locations.
Your guides (left to right): Jim Rapp of Delmarva Birding Weekends and Alex and Lisa Green of Harriet Tubman Tours. Photo taken at Linchester Mill in Preston, MD.