Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1822. She was separated from her father as a young child. When she was 6 years old, Harriet was separated from her mother and rented out to other slaveholders.
Harriet worked the marshland of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, learning how to navigate the area and making connections with sailors who would later provide reliable communications for the underground railroad.
In 1849 she feared being sold into the deep South and never seeing her family again. That’s when she decided to escape. She found her freedom in Philadelphia, PA. But would return to the Eastern Shore 13 times to help more than 70 friends and family escape.
Harriet Tubman became a liberator during the Civil War. She helped Union generals recruit black soldiers in the South, and was the first woman in US history to plan and lead a raid on the Combahee River, freeing more than 700 enslaved people.
Harriet Tubman’s passion for equality was also prevalent in her work around voting rights for women.
Learn more about Harriet Tubman and her impact on Our Story
- National Park Service Websites
- The Parks Podcast (Episode 15)