October 9th 2023.
Harriet Tubman is a renowned abolitionist, humanitarian, and Civil War hero, but many people overlook the legacy and final years she spent in Upstate New York. Auburn, NY served as a birthplace for the Underground Railroad and, after securing freedom for herself and many others, Tubman made the city her final home.
Tubman spent the later years of her life as an abolitionist, activist, public speaker, mentor, philanthropist, and a successful entrepreneur. Her senior living facility became a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and she was even honored with her own national park.
To honor National Underground Railroad Month, we paid a visit to Auburn to trace Harriet Tubman’s footsteps and experience her legacy in a new way. We toured her home, which still stands today, and her gravesite, alongside the graves of her husband Nelson Davis, a former army man who traveled down to Galveston, Texas in 1865 to let the formerly enslaved know that they were free.
We also visited churches and houses such as the Seward House Museum, where enslaved people were safely housed during their freedom journey, and learned about the “New Guinea: Negro Settlement,” a safe haven for free Blacks and the birthplace of the Underground Railroad.
The locals in Auburn are friendly and the food is fresh off the farm, making a visit to the city a memorable experience. To get a better picture of Harriet Tubman’s life work and how it has impacted American history, be sure to listen to Auburn’s four-part podcast series “Walk in Her Footsteps: Harriet Tubman’s Life in Auburn, NY.” Hosted by Tourism Ambassador Beonca Louis, the episodes share stories and interviews that explore Tubman’s life and legacy.
A visit to Auburn NY, in Cayuga County, will allow you to honor Harriet Tubman’s legacy and learn more about her philanthropic work, tour the property she owned, and see the apple orchards that she planted at The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Then pay your respects to her life at her final resting place in Fort Hill Cemetery.
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