Montgomery Parks will shine a light on stories of the brave women of the Underground Railroad and the history of a 200-year-old former Quaker plantation in its September and October History Hour lecture series. Park historians will present the sessions on September 19 and October 17, from 6 – 7 p.m. at Josiah Henson Museum and Park.
Montgomery Parks Cultural Resources Museums Manager Shirl Spicer will present the September edition, ‘Women of the Underground Railroad: African American Experiences of Maryland.‘ The lecture will explore the history and participation of Maryland women, including Harriett Tubman, in the Underground Railroad.
The October lecture ‘The Voices of Woodlawn Manor: A 200-year-old Cultural Site,’ will be presented by Christian Murgia, education program manager at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Murgia will delve into the history of Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park as a location in continuous use since its founding over 200 years ago with many different voices echoing throughout the grounds. The dynamic site has been a boarding school, a Quaker plantation with an enslaved population, and is currently a historical site operated by Montgomery Parks.
“Montgomery County has such rich 18th and 19th-century history, especially African American history, that many people don’t know about,” said Diana Klein, the education program manager at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park. “We are really excited to bring awareness of this history to the public and showcase our in-house experts.”
WHAT: History Hour Lecture Series
WHEN: September 19 and October 17, 2024 | 6 –7 p.m.
WHERE: Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda
PARKING: Parking is only available at Wall Local Park, 5900 Executive Blvd, North Bethesda. There is limited accessible parking at the Museum.
DETAILS: $5 per person. Purchase tickets. Appropriate for ages 13 and older.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early and take a self-guided tour of the museum. Doors open at 5 p.m. Refreshments are provided.