Montgomery Parks is offering an inspiring lineup of special events that honor history, culture, and community this February for Black History Month.
Events include an engaging presentation by historian Ralph Buglass on Thurgood Marshall’s early fight against segregation in Montgomery County and poet and author Camille Dungy will discuss powerful insights on the connections between nature and identity. Join us as we reflect, learn, and celebrate together with fun-filled family activities that bring our local history to life.
“Montgomery Parks is the caretaker of dozens of cultural sites in Montgomery County, many of which reflect the African American experience in Maryland,” said Shirl Spicer, Montgomery Parks cultural resources museums supervisor. “Black History Month is the perfect time to showcase these properties and the stories they hold.” Black History Month Events:
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden Wednesday February 5, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Online:
Author Camile Dungy discusses her memoir of gardening, motherhood and her seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden. This online presentation is sponsored by Brookside Gardens and Friends of Brookside Gardens. Free. Register here.
Black History Month Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Saturday, February 8, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.:
Families are invited to drop-in at Woodlawn Manor House to enjoy hands-on activities including compass making, mapping your family tree, and sharing what freedom means to you and more. Recommended for ages 6 to 17. There will be story times at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Free. No advance registration required.
History Hour at Josiah Henson Museum and Park Thursday, February 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m.:
Historian Ralph Buglass presents an illustrated talk on how civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall delivered an early blow to segregation in Montgomery County. The little-known case is often seen as the first step in Marshall’s drive to have segregated schools outlawed. Recommended for ages 12+. Admission is $5. Tickets are available online and onsite. Guests may arrive early and tour the Josiah Henson Museum. Doors open at 5 p.m. Parking is available 1.5 blocks from the museum at Wall Park, 5900 Executive Blvd, North Bethesda.
Black History Month Family Day at Josiah Henson Museum and Park Saturday, February 22, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.:
Visit the Josiah Henson Museum and Park for educational, hands-on activities that demonstrate what a child’s life was like in Dawn, the settlement Rev. Josiah Henson created after self-emancipating to Canada via the Underground Railroad. Henson was a life-long fighter for freedom and education. All ages. Free with paid admission to museum. $5 for adults. $4 for children and seniors. Tickets are available for purchase onsite. Parking is available 1.5 blocks away from the museum at Wall Park, 5900 Executive Blvd, North Bethesda.
Oakley Cabin Augmented Reality Experience Daily, Sunrise-Sunset:
Grab your smartphone and take a self-guided tour around Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park. Visitors can scan eight QR codes located on kiosks around the property to learn more about the history and archaeology of the site using augmented reality modules. The augmented reality experience is available in seven languages and was recently named the best immersive local history experience by Bethesda Magazine. The park sits on land that was once the home of a thriving African American roadside community. Free. Note that the cabin is not open now. It will reopen for tours in April.