Born into slavery at a plantation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and provided with no formal education, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and defied his humble origins to become a world renowned advocate for equal rights, author, publisher, orator, and statesman, traveling across the world to raise awareness about the evils of slavery. In later life, Douglass become an advisor to President Lincoln, and later served as U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, and Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti. The home pictured below, located in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C., is where Douglass spent the last seventeen years of his life. Known as Cedar Hill, the Douglass estate is now a national park. If you would like to visit, be sure to make reservations in advance.
