
Thirty years after retracing the path of the Underground Railroad on foot, a Germantown historian plans to make the journey again, this time marking the nation’s 250th birthday while highlighting the legacy of Harriet Tubman.
In 1996, Anthony Michael Cohen walked from Maryland to Canada in search of traces of Tubman’s Underground Railroad. At the time, Cohen was a 32-year-old graduate student with a backpack and time to spare. By the time he completed the journey, the experience had brought national attention, including an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and helped shape what would become his lifelong career as a historian.
Now 62, Cohen plans to retrace that journey in 2026 with a message centered on reflection and unity. “Let’s take pride in all the great moments of our past as we look forward to our collective future,” Cohen said.
The 750-mile pilgrimage, titled #FreedomWalk2026, will begin May 4 at the Sandy Spring Slave Museum. From there, Cohen will travel through Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York before concluding the journey in Toronto, Canada on July 4, 2026.
The walk will be funded primarily through a per-mile pledge campaign supported by the public through Cohen’s organization, the Menare Foundation. According to Cohen, that grassroots support reflects the collective effort that helped make the Underground Railroad possible during Tubman’s time.
Unlike his first walk three decades ago, which he largely completed alone until national media attention brought wider recognition, Cohen will be joined this time by a small team of supporters. The journey will also include a 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman created by North Carolina artist Wesley Wofford.
“The mission of the walk is to bring attention to what Harriet Tubman stood for as an American,” Cohen said. “Harriet means unwavering courage, liberation, and humanitarianism.” The sculpture, titled “Journey to Freedom,” will travel along the route and be displayed during stops designed to encourage community engagement.
As Cohen moves from town to town, he plans to stop at historically significant locations each day to highlight key landmarks connected to the Underground Railroad. On weekends, the team will host “Activation Days,” where the sculpture will be displayed for public viewing.
These events are expected to include presentations, service projects, music, food, and community walks that allow members of the public to participate in portions of the journey.
In addition to the Menare Foundation, the #FreedomWalk2026 initiative is supported by several nonprofit organizations, including Coming to the Table, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Washington Revels, and the Potomac Community Foundation.