Montgomery Parks Historians Special Lecture Series

‘Women of the Underground Railroad’ and ‘History of Woodlawn Plantation’

Stories of the “Brave Women of the Underground Railroad” and the “History of Woodlawn Plantation,” the 200-year-old former Quaker plantation, will be featured in the Montgomery Parks September and October History Hour lecture series. Park historians will present the sessions from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 17, at Josiah Henson Museum and Park in North Bethesda.

Josiah Henson Museum and Park is located at 11410 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda. Parking is only available at Wall Local Park at 5900 Executive Blvd. in North Bethesda. There is limited accessible parking at the Museum.

Tickets for each lecture are $5. Purchase tickets here. The lectures are appropriate for ages 13 and older.

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 more than 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.”

Guests are encouraged to arrive early and take a self-guided tour of the museum. Doors open at 5 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement.

Chrysanthemum, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland USA IMG_7869
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs