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NC artists touring Harriet Tubman sculpture unveiled in Halifax

Historic Halifax is celebrating Women's History Month with a special tribute to Harriet Tubman.

Posted Updated

By
Bryan Mims
, WRAL reporter
HALIFAX, N.C. — Historic Halifax is celebrating Women's History Month with a special tribute to Harriet Tubman.

The 9-foot statue of Tubman, created by North Carolina sculptor Wesley Wofford, is touring the country and, after a stop in New York, will be displayed for one month in Halifax County.

The Halifax County Underground Railroad Committee unveiled the statue on Friday at 2 p.m. and it will be on display in Halifax through mid-April.

According to the Halifax County Underground Railroad Committee's website, many freedom seekers have connections to Halifax County. The county has three National Park Service designated Network to Freedom Sites at the Old Town of Halifax, the Roanoke River and the Roanoke Canal.

In fact, there were more freed African Americans in Halifax County than any other county in the state.

They offered safe houses, provisions, and directions for runaway, enslaved people headed north to freedom.

Born enslaved in Maryland, Harriet Tubman led more than a dozen missions.

Wofford crafted this statue for a client in Texas, its permanent home. But he knew this stoic and heroic creation had to travel America.

"It was too important and too timely [to] not," Wofford said. "The beautiful countenance of Harriet Tubman is certainly an inspiration every day. I'm just honored to amplify her message in 2021."

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