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The Trackless Trail Tracked from the Eastern Shore to Canada

by Chris Densmore

There are plans to commemorate the intrepid African-American Underground Railroad conductor by a byway from her birth-place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and then following her escape route through Maryland and Delaware.  Chester County historian Francis Taylor wrote about the Underground Railroad being a "Trackless Trail" but it is possible to connect Harriet directly to the abolitionists of Southern Chester County, and from there follow her northward all the way to Canada.  She knew the Progressive Friends of Longwood Meeting.  Future travelers on the modern Tubman Byway can not only see the old Longwood Meetinghouse, but likely will be tempted to take a short break from their historical pilgrimage to view Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine River Museum, before heading north again to Niagara Falls.  Anyone for a road trip?

*Since the writing of this article, the Harriet Tubman Byway has been created.  You can learn more by going to www.harriettubmanbyway.org

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