LA PLATA — Friendship Farm Park in Charles County has been officially added to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, recognizing its direct connection to the story of resistance to enslavement in Southern Maryland.
The 382-acre park overlooking Nanjemoy Park preserves the original site of Friendship House, built in the mid-1700s and made famous by the daring 1840 escape of Scipio Grantt, an enslaved man who fled from enslaver Robert Gray at Friendship Farm. Today, the park also retains two 18th-century livestock houses and a 17th-century granary, offering visitors a tangible link to this important chapter of local and national history.
The Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism announced the designation, highlighting how the park now joins a select group of sites with verifiable ties to the Underground Railroad.
The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, established by Congress in 1998, collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to honor, preserve, and promote the history of escape and flight from enslavement. The program includes historic sites, educational programs, and interpretive centers across the country.
For Southern Maryland residents in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties, the addition brings greater attention to the region’s often-overlooked role in the Underground Railroad. The Potomac River and its tributaries formed natural pathways for freedom seekers moving north from Virginia and southern Maryland plantations toward Pennsylvania and beyond. Sites like Friendship Farm help tell these stories of courage and resilience that shaped the area’s African American heritage.
The park serves both as a recreational space and a living history resource for the tri-county region. Visitors can explore the preserved structures while learning about Scipio Grantt’s escape and the broader network of people who aided freedom seekers in Southern Maryland.
Charles County officials see the designation as an opportunity to strengthen cultural tourism and educational programming in western Charles County, part of the growing Western Charles County Technology Corridor and historic landscape near Naval Support Facility Indian Head. The park’s location along the Potomac River makes it an accessible destination for families and school groups from across Southern Maryland.
The Network to Freedom listing allows the park to connect with similar sites nationwide, potentially opening doors for additional interpretive exhibits, historical markers, and collaborative programs with other Underground Railroad locations in Maryland and neighboring states.
The Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism encourages residents and visitors to explore the park and learn more about its history. For additional details on the site’s listing, visit the Network to Freedom listings page.
This recognition comes as Southern Maryland continues to preserve and share its rich African American history through public parks, museums, and community initiatives. Friendship Farm Park joins other local landmarks that highlight the region’s contributions to the fight for freedom and equality.
The designation underscores the importance of protecting historic sites in Charles County while making them accessible for public education and reflection. Local leaders hope the addition will inspire more residents to visit and learn about the courage of individuals like Scipio Grantt who risked everything for liberty.
