Her Only Way To Freedom Was To Escape
The Reality Of A Runaway Slave's Dangerous Journey Is Portrayed At The Underground Railroad Experience Trail In Sandy Spring, Maryland
“Five hundred dollar reward!” the poster reads. “Runaway from the Subscriber on a few days past, a Negro Girl named Ann Maria Weems, a bright mulatto and well grown. About 15 years of age, smart and good looking. Well known in Rockville, has a mother and father in Washington, where it is supposed she will endeavor to go. A reward of $500 will be paid for her apprehension and security and delivery at my plantation in Rockville, Maryland.”
Born a slave in Maryland in the 1840s, Weems is best known for her daring and clever escape from slavery. When it became clear that her only chance to obtain freedom was to escape, Weems began to devise a plan in 1855. On September 23, the fifteen year old ran away from Montgomery County and made her way to Washington DC, where she spent time with relatives along the Underground Railroad.
“Meanwhile, her supporters crafted a plan for her escape from Washington, DC,” noted Black Past, an online guide to African American history. “In late November, Dr. Ellwood Harvey, the Bigelow family physician, drove his carriage in front of the White House. He waited for Weems, who was dressed in a male driver’s uniform including a jacket, pants, a bow tie, and cap and who assumed the name 'Mr. Joe Wright.' She arrived with Bigelow and took her position as driver of the carriage. To most observers one would assume Dr. Harvey had just finished doing business in the White House and was now being driven away by his coachman.”
While Weems’ story is astonishing, she's unfortunately not alone in her experience. To help people understand a runaway slave's experience, the Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring, Maryland has put together an Underground Railroad Experience tour throughout the natural surface trails throughout the park's property.
The reason for using the natural surface trail, said Program Manager Mark Thorne, is to show how the environment in the woods would have been used by those seeking freedom, using it for evasion and escape. With various plant life and forestation, bridges and hills, the area is perfect for helping people understand the difficulty the slaves faced during their horrifying journey.
The guided hikes are two and a half hours long, a round trip of 3.5 miles, with landmarks and points of interest along the way. One such checkpoint is a bridge along the trail.
Said Thorne: “We talk about the challenges of river crossage. Bridges were one of the places where many slaves were captured. There's also a spot where two paths intersect. When two different trails would pass, that was another very dangerous place. One area we talk about is brambles. We talk about how they would have been very uncomfortable, but an ideal hiding spot.”
All throughout the hike, guides discuss the idea of giving someone instructions in a way that they can remember without having knowledge of the alphabet, since most slaves couldn't read.
“For instance, if there was a fork in the road. You wouldn't say it looks like a V,” explained Thorne. “You would relate it to a tool or instrument they're familiar with. We also try to encourage people to look for places that look for resting places, a place to hide, or if they see anything they might think is edible, ways to disguise their footprint...”
For many guests, the reality of the runaway slaves' dangerous journey really starts to settle in as they make their way through the property. Knowing they are walking past a bush where a slave may have been hiding, the sound of violent, snarling hounds in the distance... The history of the area really comes to life in a powerful and emotional way.
Many guests start off “enthusiastic,” but as they start walking the trail during a hot day they start to realize the challenges people in the past had when they were navigating the area. Unlike the guests who make their way through the trail now, the slaves who used the area to hide didn't even have shoes. Many were barefoot. Said Thorne: “To think about those things while on the trail... To smell and feel the bugs flying around, doing it in safety of daytime without someone chasing us... Imagine if...”
The property was a popular area to hide in since it was so close to a train that headed north. It was very close to the largest slave market in the south – located in Washington DC. So it was very common for the slaves to escape and make their way to the location, a Quaker community that had once provided assistance to runaway slaves.
“Any history is all of our history. It's a shared history we all have. It's relevant to all of us,” said Thorne. “Being able to tell the stories of the slaves that sought freedom and communicating with guests about the people who still seek freedom today... It's a tour that resonates with a lot of international visitors.”
Thorne has been working at the Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park for about a year, after working at a children's museum in Washington DC for many years. The interactive space and getting to discuss the area's history was what made the new position appealing to Thorne.
“I love the fact that I get to talk to people about history. People are sincerely engaged and that thirst for more information... People have that 'aha' moment when we talk about the challenges in this community,” he said. “I have always been interested in history. It tells you where you came from. It often gives you the blueprint for where you’re going to go. You learn from the past.”
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Cherry Hill Park, which is a family owned and operated RV resort with traditional values and modern amenities. It is the closest RV park and campground to Washington D.C.