Harriet Tubman lived an even more extraordinary life than the short history lesson we got about her in school. She was a wife and mother, an entrepreneur, a soldier, a spy, a nurse and an activist who fought for women’s right to vote. In this episode, we explore the life of one of the bravest and most extraordinary women in our country’s history through interviews with leading historians and educators. Go to Virginia.org/Harriet to learn more.

Becoming Harriet

Following Harriet is a podcast that takes a closer look at the life of one of the bravest and most extraordinary women in our country’s history. It also puts Harriet in a broader context, examining the 19th Century experience of African Americans, especially in Virginia.

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You probably learned about Harriet Tubman in school growing up — how she led slaves to freedom on the underground railroad. But she was a lot more than an activist and freedom fighter. She was a daughter, wife, entrepreneur — and a talented outdoorswoman.

This episode from the podcast Out There explores Tubman’s relationship with nature, unpacks how that history shapes the way Black Americans engage with the outdoors today and shows how a closer look at Tubman could offer new perspectives on who belongs outdoors.

Bonus: The Ultimate Outdoorswoman from Out There

This bonus episode is a condensed version of our interview with musician, artist and activist Rhiannon Giddens, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. We talk to her about her song "At the Purchaser's Option," her music and Harriet Tubman. 

If you’d like to learn more about visiting places that tell the story of Harriet Tubman, The Underground Railroad and the 19th Century African American experience, especially in the state of Virginia, go to https://www.virginia.org/harriet.

Bonus: Musician Rhiannon Giddens on Harriet

In this episode, we pull Harriet’s story and the story of the African American experience in 19th Century America right through to the present. We talk about why a movie like Harriet, and how it depicts the way she lived her life, is so important to us as Americans at this time. Go to Virginia.org/Harriet to learn more.

Harriet’s Legacy Today: Strength, Courage & Triumph

As we learn about Harriet Tubman, we also get a better understanding of the broader experience for African Americans in the 19th Century. We travel to museums throughout Virginia and to the presidential homes of Thomas Jefferson (Monticello) and James Madison (Montpelier) to hear how those stories are being told today. Go to Virginia.org/Harriet to learn more.

Becoming Harriet

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