Exciting news! Last month, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s archeological team discovered the long-lost site of Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross’ cabin within the 2,961 acres of newly added forested wetlands to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. This finding shows not only how important it is to preserve our refuges for wildlife, but also for the deep historical significance that lies within them.
According to refuge manager Marcia Pradines, "When land is treated well, it has many values, including wildlife and fish habitat, sustainable timber, storm buffers, water quality, soil health, recreation, and even history. And when it comes to cultural history, this land has rich stories to tell. From the Native Americans who first walked here, harvesting from the woods and river, to Ben Ross teaching his daughter how to manage timber, or Fred Besley, Maryland’s first State forester, who owned this land and has been in his family ever since we acquired it. We want to honor those stories, and help create new ones."