# Maryland Emancipation Day at Josiah Henson Museum and Park

> Event for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Sun, Nov 1 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Where: Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
- Ages: All Ages
- Price: Free admission
- Organizer: Montgomery Parks (M-NCPPC)
- Official page: https://montgomeryparks.org/events/family-day-special-opening-maryland-emancipation-day/
- Last checked: Sat, Oct 24

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 32 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/maryland-emancipation-day-at-josiah-henson-museum-and-park--listing-c3ecf630d70e63c3ca8a9c39

## About

To mark the 1864 Maryland constitution that abolished slavery, Josiah Henson Museum and Park in North Bethesda opens free of charge for the afternoon. The site interprets the life of Josiah Henson, who was enslaved on this plantation, escaped to Canada and became an abolitionist whose memoir influenced Uncle Tom's Cabin. Families can tour the museum exhibits and the historic house and grounds at their own pace; the visit suits school-age children studying Maryland or African American history. No registration is required.

## Similar picks in Washington, DC

- [Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration at Woodlawn Manor](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/maryland-emancipation-day-celebration-at-woodlawn-manor--listing-e5d0981dc56a5fffd6144a58) — Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, Sandy Spring · With admission · checked Oct 24. Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring marks Maryland Emancipation Day with a day of history. The Woodlawn Museum is free to visit from 10 am to 4 pm (check in at the…
- [Meet the Wheelwoman at the National Museum of American History](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/meet-the-wheelwoman-at-the-national-museum-of-american-history--listing-566060d100d62280db3dac28) — Fri, Oct 30 · 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History · Free · checked Oct 20. Meet the Wheelwoman is a short character performance at the National Museum of American History in which visitors meet a cyclist pursuing life, liberty and happiness in the…
- [Glen Echo Park Fall Frolic 2026](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/glen-echo-park-fall-frolic-2026--listing-15ce7d12012aa2d627aedddd) — Sat, Oct 31 · 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Glen Echo Park · Free · checked Oct 11. Halloween art, trick-or-treating at studios, costume contest and student music performances.
- [Día de los Muertos Family Festival — National Museum of the American Indian](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/dia-de-los-muertos-family-festival-national-museum-of-the-american-ind--listing-4d57fb262c7e05dd829f881b) — Sat, Oct 31 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · National Museum of the American Indian (Washington) · All ages · Free · checked Oct 16. The National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall celebrates Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm, presenting it…
- [Stamp & Scream Halloween at the National Postal Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/stamp-and-scream-halloween-at-the-national-postal-museum--listing-9932bfd7601d6b5e548bd384) — Sat, Oct 31 · 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Smithsonian National Postal Museum · Free · checked Oct 16. The National Postal Museum near Union Station hosts a free Halloween festival, Stamp & Scream, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 11 am to 3 pm. Families explore spooky stamps…
- [Shout: Ring Shout Performances at the National Museum of American History](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/shout-ring-shout-performances-at-the-national-museum-of-american-histo--listing-4de263e8bcc5d0693b554e8b) — Sun, Oct 25 (+1 more date) · 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM · Smithsonian National Museum of American History · Free · checked Oct 20. SHOUT is a 30-minute performance by the National Museum of American History's ensemble, who sing, dance and teach through storytelling. Audiences learn about the ring shout, a…

## More for families

- [This weekend in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc.md)
