Abolitionists To Stand In Maryland State House

Bronze Statues Of Tubman, Douglass Coming In 2020

In a vote of 3-0, the Maryland Board of Public Works voted on a $575,000 contract to construct the statues of Maryland abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. The Eastern Shore’s native son and daughter were born in Talbot and Dorchester Counties respectively.

Amidst concerns from Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot and Maryland State Delegate Julian Ivey, the erection of the statues will go forward. Made of bronze, they will stand in the old House of Delegates Chamber. Franchot’s concern was that neither the company nor the sculptor are from the state of Maryland, while Delegate Ivey expressed his written concern to the board that a minority business was not a part of the contract, “If the state of Maryland is going to honor Ms. Tubman and Mr. Douglass, we need to do it the right way.”

The contract was awarded to the Christmas Company of Sterling Virginia and calls for the work to be completed by 2020.

The 3 voting board members were Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.