Harriet Tubman - Thomas Garrett - The Underground Railroad, (sculpture)

Object Details

sculptor

Unknown

Subject

Tubman, Harriet

Garrett, Thomas

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Delaware survey, 1994.

Image on file.

(Beneath reliefs, in raised letters:) HARRIET TUBMAN THOMAS GARRETT/THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD/THOMAS GARRETT, JOHN HUNN, EZEKIEL JENKINS, SAMUEL D. BURRIS, AND/MANY OTHER DELAWAREANS WERE PROMINENT ABOLITIONISTS OF PRE-CIVIL/WAR DAYS. THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH HARRIET TUBMAN, AN ESCAPED SLAVE/FROM DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND, FREQUENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE/"MOSES OF HER PEOPLE" WERE INDEED OF MONUMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO BOTH/THE FIRST STATE AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AT THE HOME OF/THOMAS GARRETT, 227 SHIRLEY STREET, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, MORE THAN/2,700 SLAVES RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, DIRECTION, AND MORAL/ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR FLIGHT FROM BONDAGE TO FREEDOM. NO OTHER/POINT ALONG THE UNDERGROUND NETWORK HANDLED AS MUCH HUMAN/TRAFFIC AS DID THE GARRETT HOUSE. FOR MANY FUGITIVE SLAVES ENROUTE/TO PHILADELPHIA AND OTHER POINTS NORTH. THE CITY OF WILMINGTON/BECAME KNOWN AS "A LAST STOP BEFORE FREEDOM."/ERECTED MAY 31, 1976/THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRO-AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY/WILMINGTON BRANCH

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Summary

A plaque memorializing the Underground Railroad and the abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Thomas Garrett. Included on the plaque are bas-reliefs of Tubman and Garrett. Tubman is depicted wearing a scarf on her head.

Culture

African American

Dedicated May 31, 1976

Control number

IAS DE000033

Type

Sculptures-Relief

Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture

Sculptures

Medium

Plaque: bronze; Base: bronze

Owner/Location

Administered by City of Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation 22 South Heald Street Wilmington Delaware 19801

Located Spencer Plaza French Street between 8th & 9th Streets Wilmington Delaware

Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

Topic

History--United States--Underground Railroad

History--United States--Black History

History--United States--Delaware

Portrait female--Bust

Portrait male--Bust

Ethnic

Record ID

siris_ari_320179

Metadata Usage (text)

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