Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway
Visitor Services

Several visitor centers and museums lie along the byway including the following:

• The Brannock Maritime Museum is located at 210 Talbot Avenue in Cambridge. Dedicated to Dorchester County's maritime heritage, this museum showcases artifacts from the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Learn about the oyster navy, the ship building industry and Dorchester's part in defending the United States by sea. It is open 10-4 Friday through Saturday, 1-4 Sunday or by appointment.

• The Meredith House and Nield Museum is found on Maryland Avenue next to the Dorchester Historical Society. At the Meredith House, the visitor will find a 1760s' Georgian home housing artifacts from the six Maryland Governors born in Dorchester with a child's room containing antique dolls and toys and other period displays. The Nield Museum features an extensive collection of agricultural, maritime, industrial, and Native American artifacts. Also located on the grounds are a stronghouse, a combination wheelwright/blacksmith shop, and formal and herbal gardens. It is open Thursday through Saturday from 10-3 or by appointment.

• The Richardson Maritime Museum is located at 401 High Street, Cambridge. Founded to celebrate the art of wooden boat building, the museum is a repository of Chesapeake Bay wooden boat memorabilia and history. It is open from April to October. Hours are 1-4 pm on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday or by appointment.

• The Dorchester Heritage Museum lies on Horn Point Road, Cambridge. This museum highlights local heritage in four main areas: The Heritage Displays, The Waterman Room, The Aviation Hall and The Archeology Room. Special children's exhibits are also available. It is open weekends from April 15 - October 30, 1-4, or by appointment.
• The Underground Railroad: Harriet Tubman Museum and Gift Shop is found at 424 Race Street, Cambridge. It serves as a resource area for Harriet Tubman. Gifts from around the world as well as local and Native American items can be purchased. Call 410-228-0401 for more info.
• The Spocott Windmill is six miles west of Cambridge on Rt. 343. Once a self-contained community, it's the only existing post windmill for grinding grain in Maryland.

Service	Description	Service	Description
	Fees No fees to drive the byway		Accessibility All the features on the byway are universally accessible with the exception of Poplar Neck. The towns and settlements that have sidewalks are equipped with cross slopes to the street level....
	Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle travel is safe along the entire route, and grades throughout are minor. Both counties are popular cycling destinations with bicycle guides. All municipalities except Goldsboro have...		Camping There are places to camp along this byway.
	Food There are places to buy food along this byway.		Gasoline Gasoline is available.
	Information There is an authoritative information center along this byway.		Lodging There is overnight lodging along this byway.
	Phone Public phones are available along this byway.		Restrooms There are toilet facilities along this byway.
	Retail There are places to shop along this byway.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Route 50 has heavy traffic on the weekends because of travel to and from Atlantic Coast beaches.

Restrictions

Buses are accommodated along almost the entire route; however, turning around at the the bridge at Stewart’s Canal is challenging and heavy loads such as motorcoaches and RVs are restricted from Woolford/Harrisville Road, Bestpitch Ferry Bridge, Choptank Village, and Poplar Neck.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

The best times to drive this byway are from April through October. Many migratory birds return in the spring, while autumn paints the area in vibrant reds and oranges.

High Season

The busiest season to drive the Underground Railroad Trail is from June to August. This is due to the many visitors to Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Off Season

November to March is considered the Eastern Shore's off-season. Despite the bare trees and chill in the air, visitors will still enjoy traveling the byway.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.

Maryland