Harriet Tubman Memorial Receives National Recognition

DORCHESTER COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- She played a huge role in shaping the nation's history. Now, the Maryland park dedicated to Harriet Tubman's legacy was declared a national monument.

Kai Jackson has more on Monday's announcement from the president.

It's an honor befitting one of America's greatest heroes. A local historian says that President Barack Obama's recognition of Harriet Tubman will have a lasting impact.

Harriet Tubman may have been small in stature, but she is a giant in American history.

"There's no iconic figure like Harriet Tubman. She's probably best known as one of the sources of the Underground Railroad," said Burt Kummerow, Maryland Historical Society.

Tubman was born a slave on Maryland's Eastern Shore and escaped to freedom. She led others to liberty through the Underground Railroad.

News that President Obama designated the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad in Dorchester County as a national monument was exciting for Tubman's descendents, Marylanders and historians.

"She had freed herself. She came back time after time to free others, which says something about her spirit," said Reginald Lewis Museum Director Skip Sanders.

Earlier this month, Tubman's great-great-great-niece spoke when Maryland broke ground for the new Harriet Tubman State Park.

"People will be able to come from all over the world and come here and they will have somewhere to go so they can educate themselves about who Harriet Ross Tubman was and what she did for the world," said Patricia Ross-Hawkins.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Harriet Tubman's death.