Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park — Attraction in Cambridge

We visited in early April 2022. We arrived on a Saturday at 3:45PM to learn that the gift shop closes right at 3:45 although that is not posted anywhere on the website. The museum closes at 4pm. The shop keep said that she had to close at 3:45 in order to make sure everything is done at 4PM because all the park rangers wanted to leave and didn't want to wait for her. Unfortunately, the passport stamps are located in the gift shop begind the locked gates. The shop keep was super nice and offered to open up the locked gate in order for us to at least get our passport stamp as we drove 40 mins out of our way to visit. She would not let us purchase anything though as she had already closed the register down. There were other vistors who were just as surprised that the gift shop closed early. We were not the only disappointed guests. Also guests were corralled out exactly at 4pm.

The real incident that left a sour taste in my mouth was the 2 park employees working the front desk. A older african american lady and a younger white lady. When we asked if there were junior ranger booklets the kids could work on they seemed confused and said no they do not have that. We had seen previously online on their website that they do so we were confused and figured maybe they ran out or they were available only electronically but not in print. Well we spent the last 15 mins wondering through the museum which would've easily taken 30 mins to an hour. My youngest had to use the bathroom and when he came out he happened to bump into a male park ranger who commented on his junior ranger pin that he had just recieved at Assateague and proudly adorned on his shirt. They started up a conversation and the ranger asked if he wanted to earn the junior ranger patch for their park? My wife was confused as the other women had said there wasn't one. The male ranger turns to the two women and asked if they could hand him the junior ranger booklets. The look on their face when they were caught in their own lie was great. What kind of park employee lie to little kids about wanting to do a junior ranger program? Maybe they wanted to leave for the day and didn't want our kids to slow that down by looking for answers to the queations throughoutthe museum? Who knows. My only thought was dispicable. I would've given this park a lower score if it wasn't for the super generous museum store shop keep letting us get our passport stamps (there are 4) and the male park ranger starting up a conversation with my youngest son.

It started spinkling and the wind was picking up so we didn't get to explore the outdoor portion of the park but we will definitely visit again to explore the museum more and finish their ranger books.

Fyi. Apparently we found out afterwards you can go to their website and request the ranger books online and they mail...

I want to come back and give it five stars when the area if fully built out, but can only give four stars now, because there's just not a lot there yet. What IS there is wonderful, however, though not really focused on Harriet Tubman or the Underground Railroad. For a peak into nature and into the topography and biology of the Eastern Shore, it's great. We were in the area for a wedding, discovered this treasure, and carved out a few hours for a visit. The area has been/is being lovingly and thoughtfully developed. It's clear that the science & scientists behind the park are top notch & skilled in their fields. The trails are generally well marked and interesting with lots of attention paid to the educational makrers, turn-by-turn description brochures, etc. The visitors' center was staffed by 2 amazing volunteers. There is a decent film but it's not advertised; we had to ask if there was a film. But once we did the two volunteers (husband and wife) knocked themselves out getting it going for us! Neither was very familiar with the AV set up and it took about 10 minutes to figure out how to get it going but they were very apologetic and didn't give up. (It would have been easy for them to simply say 'sorry; it's not available.) It was worth waiting for and very informative. The Osprey Cam in the visitors' center was a real treat. Though the Ospreys have left for the winter, a bald eagle lighted on the Osprey platform - just inches from the camera - and we watched him stare at the camera and at his surroundings for 15 minutes! The volunteer staff took lots of time telling us about the various trails, and even loaned us a nice set of binoculars to take on our drive (of course we had to leave a credit card as security.) The visitor's center building itself is beautiful and the exhibits very professionally done and modern. This center is well worth a visit if you're in the area, but if you're planning a trip, wait until there are additional exhibits. And go knowing that you'll learn a lot about the Eastern Shore, but not much about the...

I went to this beautiful place with my son and his classmates for a school field trip. The building itself is beautiful but being a native of Cambridge maryland myself I wish this facility was more accessible to the public it was ment to educate. The overall experience was very educating. But on another not this 1 staff member who was in charge of the tour was so insanely rude he started off the tour yelling at all of us parents and teachers alike the kids were given a group activity booklet to fill out as they went through the facility which requires them to talk to each other they had to draw a picture of themselves so they had to stop and some squated on the floor here he comes yelling move stand up your not in your home. One time he pulled a child's out of the walk in exibit snatched his work book yelled to everybody he had nothing in his book and yelled across the room for his chaperone not knowing she was right there and guess what his chaperone was the teacher. Me the teachers and the other chaperones were all appaled at the way he continued to speak to us. It was like he was on an ego trip. My grandmother Octavene Saunders was one of the city elected members that faught to get this place here she helped to secure the land funding and fought off racists group that never wanted this place to come to light. For my 1st time here to be treated the way we were was a big let down I literaly wanted to just leave and not come back which is so sad. Places like this are ment to educate and bring together people not make them want to leave and not learn . If you go I hope you don't get the guy with...