Honoring an Icon: March 10 is Harriet Tubman Day

March 10 is national Harriet Tubman Day. The American holiday was made into law in 1990 to honor the woman that led hundreds of slaves to freedom and served as the “conductor” of the underground railroad.

To learn more about Tubman, individuals can visit a variety of activities across the state and along the Tubman Byway:

• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Dorchester County, MD
• The Harriet Tubman Memorial Garden in Cambridge, MD
• The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, MD
• Webb Cabin in Preston, MD
• Virtual reality tours of Tubman’s experiences

Tubman is also expected to be recognized on American currency at some point in the near future. In 2016, officials under President Barack Obama’s administration announced that Tubman would likely be placed on the $20 bill. Officials planned to have Tubman replace President Andrew Jackson in 2020, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

Years later, President Donald Trump announced he would delay placing Tubman on the bill until 2026, causing significant controversy. The new bills would likely not be released to the public until at least 2028.

Gov. Larry Hogan urged the Trump administration to reconsider its decision to not place Tubman on the bill in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in 2019. Hogan said Tubman’s “unbelievable acts of heroism, courage and sacrifice have more than earned her rightful place among our nation’s most pivotal leaders,” therefore she deserved to be featured on the $20 bill.

If the plan moves forward as scheduled within the next five years, Tubman will be the first African-American pictured on American currency.

On #HarrietTubmanDay, we honor the life and legacy of one of Maryland’s most iconic freedom fighters. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, she heroically led dozens of men, women, and children to freedom, and never lost a single passenger. pic.twitter.com/igZhC28NCx

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) March 10, 2021

About Gracie Tanner

Gracie Tanner was an intern with Montgomery Community Media. She is also a junior at the University of Maryland.

View all posts by Gracie Tanner