Harriet Tubman Cultural Center Officially Opens In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A public dedication ceremony held Saturday has officially kicked off the opening of the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Howard County.

Almost 60 years after Columbia's Harriet Tubman School closed, the building has a new purpose as a cultural and educational center highlighting the historical contributions of Black Howard County residents. The cultural center features a replica classroom and principal's office, artwork, photographic exhibitions, historical exhibits and spaces available to rent.

Tubman was born into slavery in Dorchester County, then escaped and helped 70 other enslaved people find freedom through the Underground Railroad. The Harriet Tubman School opened in 1949 as Howard County’s only all-Black high school until it was closed through desegregation in 1965 and used by the Howard County Public School System for more than 50 years.

In 2015, a memorandum of understanding was executed with the Howard County Public School System to transfer ownership of the Harriet Tubman School building and surrounding property (the “Harriet Tubman School site”) to Howard County to be preserved as a historic, educational and cultural center.

Located at 8045 Harriet Tubman Ln, Columbia, the center is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday for rental.