Treasures of the Reserve
Where History Took Root: Farms, Freedom and the Making of Freedman’ s State Park
Montgomery County’ s newest state park preserves the story of the Howard family while creating new possibilities for education, recreation, and heritage tourism.
By Cory A. Van Horn
On a quiet stretch of land in northeastern Montgomery County, farm fields meet wooded trails, stone foundations rest among trees, and two cemeteries mark generations of lives connected to the landscape. Beneath that peaceful setting lies a layered history of enslavement, freedom, landownership, and resilience.
Freedman’ s State Park, Maryland’ s newest state park, protects more than 1,000 acres near Brookeville, Olney, Sandy Spring and Laytonsville. Dedicated by the Maryland Park Service on May 15, 2026, the park centers the story of Enoch George Howard, his wife, Harriet, and a family whose path took them from enslavement to freedom, property ownership, community leadership and civil rights advocacy.
Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022, Freedman’ s State Park is intended to honor the experiences, achievements, and legacies of Marylanders who emerged from slavery into freedom. According to the official dedication announcement, the park takes its name from“ freedman,” a term historically used to describe a person emancipated from enslavement.
Greenbury Howard House at Freedman’ s State Park. Photos in this story courtesy of Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
32 plenty I autumn harvest 2026