The broader experience of slavery in Maryland, and the exploits of one of the state’ s boldest and best known antislavery figures, will also be central to next year’ s observances. In September 2026, Button Farm will celebrate International Underground Railroad Month by inviting the public to see Beacon of Hope, a copy of a Harriet Tubman sculpture by Wesley Wofford that now stands in front of the Dorchester County Courthouse on the Eastern Shore. In 2023, Button Farm hosted Wofford’ s statue Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom as part of its nationwide tour, drawing hundreds of visitors during its two-month stay.
Because Button Farm closes to the public between November 1 and March 31, Cohen hopes to use the coming winter to put the finishing touches on Great Escapes: Journeys on Maryland’ s Underground Railroad, a book coauthored with husband, historian, and farm manager Steve Gillick. Packed with original research and previously untold stories, the much-anticipated book is sure to shed new light on the history of resistance to slavery, answering a few long-standing questions while likely raising quite a few more.
How much time will Cohen have to promote the book? The question hangs in the air as he reveals his biggest project for 2026, and arguably his most personal.
“ Next year will be the 30th anniversary of my walk,” he says with a sly smile,“ so I’ m going to walk again from Sandy Spring, Maryland, to Canada. I’ ll basically follow my 1996 route, but I’ ll take eight weeks this time instead of six and a half. I’ ll leave on May 4th, and ideally I’ ll cross into Canada on July have fostered the expansion and 1, Canada Day. I’ m thinking of ending the trip on the Fourth of July than two decades. As one of Mont-
prosperity of the site for more
at the Josiah Henson historic site gomery County’ s most in-demand in Ontario, but we’ ll see how that speakers about African American works out.” history, Cohen has become the
The national organization public face of the farm, but he Coming to the Table, which reckons with the legacy of slavery in with helping him raise the voices
credits friends and supporters
America, will help sponsor Cohen’ s of those who might otherwise be walk. He anticipates a lively public forgotten by time. Having studied sendoff at Button Farm before he enslaved people for more than sets out from his starting point, the 30 years, he’ s keenly aware that Sandy Spring Slave Museum. he embodies the promise of their Conscious of the challenges unfulfilled dreams. that come with being 30 years
As Cohen leans over his porch older than the last time he hiked rail, concerned that a fox might hundreds of miles, Cohen will be troubling his geese, it’ s not spend the winter working out the clear if he’ s seeing only the farm logistics of his journey, including before him, imagining the steady new safety precautions and communications protocols to reflect to come, or already envisioning
stream of visitors in the busy year the far different media environment of the 2020s. His plan is through Pennsylvania and upstate
himself walking 12 miles a day
ambitious, but his voice takes on a New York, paying tribute to his quieter but more determined tone ancestors while making a larger the longer he discusses it:“ I do not statement about both the past and take the task lightly.” the present.
Even so, he chuckles as he
It’ s certain, however, that Tony ponders his surroundings. Did Cohen is always where he’ s meant Anthony Cohen, a history buff to be, even when his mind is in raised next to the Beltway in the several places at once.“ However downcounty suburbs, ever envision it plays out,” he says of 2026,“ it’ s himself overseeing an upcounty going to be good.” farm that demands all-year, roundthe-clock attention?
Jeff Sypeck is a writer and historical The question inspires a flood researcher in Beallsville. He is coauthor of the book I Have Started for of stories praising the Button Farm staff and an army of volunteers, Canaan: The Story of the African including 25 Eagle Scouts, who American Town of Sugarland.
Button Farm Living History Center is open from April 1 through October 31 by appointment and during open-house days and other announced events. See buttonfarm. org for a calendar of public programs and volunteer events, and look for their produce at the Germantown Flea Market on the first Saturday of the month throughout the growing season.
plenty I autumn harvest 2025 39