#FreedomWalk2026

Riverworks is proud to host Button Farm History Living Center's Anthony Cohen, a 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Harriett Tubman by Wesley Wofford, and live music by Jay Summerour and Mark Puryear at a rally to support Cohen’s travel from Maryland to Canada along the path of the Underground Railroad.

“The mission of the walk is to bring attention to what Harriett Tubman stood for as an American,” said Cohen. “Harriett means unwavering courage, liberation, and humanitarianism.”

The event will take place on the grounds of the Old Methodist Church, 17617 W Willard Ave, Poolesville, MD on Thursday, Apr 30, 6:00-8:00pm.

Cohen made this walk in 1996 as a 32-year-old graduate student, in search of of traces of Harriett Tubman’s Underground Railroad. 30 years later and now an established historian Cohen walks with a message to the nation on its 250th birthday: “Let’s take pride in all the great moments of our past as we look forward to our collective future.”

Cohen will bring a small team of supporters — and even Harriett Tubman herself, in the form of a 2,200-pound bronze sculpture by North Carolina artist Wesley Wofford.

“Harriett means unwavering courage, liberation, and humanitarianism. The sculpture, titled ‘Journey to Freedom,’ will draw a lot of attention along the way and, frankly, that’s the point. We can all take pride and engage in our shared story.”

Cohen will speak followed by a live performance of the bluesy sounds of locally-adored harmonica player and vocalist, Jay Summerour, and guitarist and Ethnomusicologist, Mark Puryear.  Both have been recorded by Smithsonian Folkways.

.