On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, this day is honored as Juneteenth.
In honor of #juneteenth, we’d like to re-share the story of when The Cape May-Lewes Ferry welcomed a bronze statue of Harriet Tubman known as the “Beacon of Hope”, on board this past November. This statue was on display at the Cape May Point Science Center since September 1st, 2023, as part of its first freedom tour stop. It will travel through New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland, retracing the path of the underground railroad, with its next stop being Salisbury, Maryland. The ferry follows a similar route once used by escaped enslaved people, who would wait for moonless nights to row across Delaware Bay with the help of the Cape May Lighthouse as their guide.
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is honored to have assisted in the historic crossing of the “Beacon of Hope” statue across the bay. This powerful sculpture serves as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of Harriet Tubman and other black Americans who fought for freedom and justice.
