This special exhibition is set to open on the second floor of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Changing Exhibitions Gallery on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass explores how Frederick Douglass’ early life in Talbot County, Maryland, shaped his journey to become a prominent abolitionist, writer, and orator. The exhibition is organized around a series of waypoints that guide visitors through key moments and locations from his life, from birth to his later returns as a free man, and how the landscape shaped these experiences.
A large, central historic map of Talbot County will serve as an introduction and a visual guide, outlining the places, routes, and timeline of Douglass’ life in the area. A graphic timeline will connect these waypoints and fill in events beyond his Maryland experiences.
Waypoints and Experiential Highlights
- Tuckahoe Creek (1818): This section focuses on Douglass’ early childhood. Experiential objects include a haul seine net and a net-making activity to represent his grandmother’s work and the landscape of Tuckahoe Creek.
- Wye House (1824): Visitors will learn about Douglass’ time at the Lloyd Plantation. The juxtaposition of the estate with his harsh living conditions is highlighted through objects like an eating tray/trough and door to the closet where he slept to show his limited rations and shelter.
- Fells Point & Holme Hill (1826-1827): This waypoint explores Douglass’ “passage” to and from Baltimore, emphasizing his transition from an enslaved boy to a person gaining literacy which led him “to abhor and detest slavery, and my enslavers.” Visitors can see and interact with books and his flour barrel desk to represent his efforts to learn to read and write.
- St. Michaels & Wades Point Farm (1833-1834): This section covers his time in the “drab oyster town” of St. Michaels and his brutal year with Edward Covey. An ox yoke will represent his labor and the attempt to “break” him, and his determination to shed the “yoke of tyranny,” a turning point for his self-determination and sense of power.
- Freeland Farm (1835-1836): This waypoint centers on his escape attempt and his time teaching others and practicing oratory in a Sabbath school under oak trees. The exhibit will highlight the 20-mile walk to Easton jail after his arrest for plotting an escape by log canoe.
- Fells Point (1836-1838): This section marks his return to Baltimore and his final escape disguised as a free sailor. A caulking interactive lets visitors experience this part of Douglass’s life firsthand. This occupation provided him with valuable skills, access to information, and a pathway to freedom disguised as a free sailor.
- Return to Talbot County (1877-1893): The final waypoints cover Douglass’ returns to his birthplace as a celebrated figure. Guests will be able to stand at a pulpit reminiscent of the one at Asbury UMC to read Douglass’ words. A writing station will also give visitors an opportunity to write a letter to Douglass, putting themselves in the mindset of someone from his time.
A key highlight of the exhibit is the central Frederick Douglass interactive. Using a tablet, guests will be able to ask questions and receive a curated response in an authentic voice from a “hologram” of Frederick Douglass, a closed-loop AI (artificial intelligence) interactive displayed on a large screen and built on inputs from the rich primary and secondary source material by and about Douglass.
The exhibit will draw from the black-and-white photography from Jeff McGuiness’ book, “Bear Me Into Freedom,” as well as historical documents and images, and hands-on activities to create an immersive and educational experience that contextualizes Douglass’ life story and allows visitors to follow his journey from enslavement to freedom and an indelible legacy. Viewing is included with CBMM general admission, which is always free for CBMM members.
