The countdown is on to the debut of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s special exhibition, Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass.

Opening Friday, Feb. 27 on the second floor of the Changing Exhibitions Building, Bear Me Into Freedom reveals how Frederick Douglass’ early life right here in Maryland’s Talbot County shaped his journey from enslavement to freedom and an indelible legacy as an American icon.

Bear Me Into Freedom features black-and-white photography from Jeff McGuiness’ book of the same name as well as historical documents and images, and hands-on activities, plus a closed-loop AI Douglass interactive, to create an immersive and educational experience.

Plan your visit now to explore this powerful exhibition. CBMM members enjoy insider access to our campus and collection, including an exclusive opening event on Friday, March 6.

In the final days leading up to Bear Me Into Freedom, we are excited to share a look behind the scenes with our Curatorial Team.

Bringing Douglass’ Story to Life

In our first video, Director of Curatorial Affairs & Exhibitions Jen Dolde shares some of the experiential elements that will augment the storytelling in Bear Me Into Freedom.

These objects and hands-on activities help illustrate key moments and locations from Douglass’ life in Talbot County, from his birth and formative years as an enslaved person to his escape to freedom and later returns as a free man. These include a haul seine net and net-making activity that represents Douglass’ grandmother’s work and the landscape of Tuckahoe Creek, a caulking interactive that connects guests to his escape out of Baltimore disguised as a free sailor, and a pulpit where guests can deliver a speech as Douglass did during his 1878 return to Talbot County as a celebrated figure.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes of Bear Me Into Freedom!