Since 2020, the 9-foot bronze statue of Harriet Tubman, The Journey to Freedom, has been traveling within the United States, captivating audiences and inspiring deeper understanding of the extraordinary American abolitionist and social activist. Created by Wesley Wofford, this statue depicting Harriet Tubman’s travels to free hundreds of enslaved people is booked for yet another year, continuing to spark dialogue and education in every community it visits.
Kicking off the new year, the traveling statue will be displayed at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island from January 1st to April 30th, 2025. In addition to having the opportunity to view this powerful exhibition, Mitchelville visitors will be able to attend special events that include guest speakers, educational workshops, guided tours, and more special programming that will be designed for visitors of all ages.
This exhibition holds particular significance on Hilton Head Island, where Harriet Tubman’s legacy is deeply rooted. Tubman spent time on Hilton Head, acting as a Union spy and nurse, and ultimately leading a covert mission in Confederate territory along the Combahee River that freed hundreds of slaves and destroy the plantations they worked on. Many of the liberated went on to become Mitchelville residents, the first governed town for freedmen in the United States. Tubman remains the only woman that led a military mission throughout the Civil War.
In 2022, the Town of Hilton Head Island named the road into Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Harriet Tubman Way, to celebrate Tubman’s 200th birthday.
Don’t miss this chance to learn about Harriet Tubman’s remarkable legacy and the rich history of Mitchelville. For more details about the exhibition or Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, click here.
