Born a slave in Talbot County, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey escaped to freedom in 1838 and went on to become Frederick Douglass, the great 19th century abolitionist and civil rights reformer.

Much of the landscape of Douglass’s youth in Talbot County, which he so vividly describes in his writing, remains intact today. As you tour, imagine what this area would have looked like before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and U.S. Route 50 brought modern traffic. Waterways were the primary highways of 19th century Talbot County. The tour routes include stops at publicly accessible landings so you can see the Chesapeake waters so important to Douglass’s early experiences. Canoes and kayaks are perfect for further exploration of these areas.

PLEASE NOTE: These tours will take you on busy roads, as well as many rural back roads. Use caution when pulling off to view a site or read from the guide. Many of the buildings associated with Frederick Douglass in Talbot County are no longer standing, and their exact locations are unknown; this guide directs you to the approximate vicinity of each site. In addition, many of the sites included are private property. Please respect property owners and do not trespass or use private lanes and driveways. In Talbot County, road names with green signs are public. Roads name with blue signs are strictly private.