Federick Douglass was the most influential political activist of the 19th century and is one of the most important and iconic figures in American history. His achievements are too numerous to detail here, so we have linked more information on Douglass below. Despite his large legacy in the neighborhood, Douglass never lived in Greater Mondawmin. During his lifetime, what is now Greater Mondawmin was the country estate of B&O Railroad director Dr. Patrick Macaulay and the site of scattered summer homes for Baltimore City residents. Douglass was born into slavery in the Eastern Shore and was enslaved in Baltimore, mostly near Fells Point, for most of his adolescence before escaping to freedom in Philadelphia at 20 years old. A year before his death in 1895, Frederick Douglass returned to Baltimore as a free man to give the commencement address at the “Colored High and Training School,” which would eventually be renamed in his honor and move to Gwynns Falls Parkway.
Biography and Timeline of Douglass’ Life
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C.