Harriet Tubman
Where you go matters, who came before you matters, come discover the power of this place.
Cayuga County has been home to many notable figures in history. One of the most well-known is Harriet Tubman, the self-sacrificing African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Civil War hero who freed hundreds of enslaved individuals after her self-emancipation.
While many people know Harriet Tubman as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, few know the rest of her story. Tubman spent her 50+ years outside of slavery as a public speaker and mentor, a selfless philanthropist, and a successful entrepreneur, all while being a lifelong abolitionist. She chose to live alongside her friends and colleagues in the place where the soul of equal rights was born and lives on today, Auburn, New York.
Here, you can follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman and experience her history – and her legacy – in a whole new way. Walk in her shoes across the streets and the floors of the historical landmarks that welcomed Harriet Tubman to live her life as a free woman. Take the self-guided Underground Railroad Tour, including churches and houses such as the Seward House Museum, where enslaved people were safely housed during their freedom journey.
Learn about her philanthropic work and tour the property she owned, see her brick residence, and visit the church she worshipped in. Learn more at the Harriet Tubman Home and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Then pay your respects to her life at her final resting place in Fort Hill Cemetery.
Harriet Tubman’s legacy lives on in the historical sites, in the residents, in the small businesses, and in the community itself. Visit and allow yourself to experience the untold story of Harriet Tubman and her bravery. Use our 24 hour or our 48 hour intineries to help you plan you visit and walk in her footsteps.
Explore Harriet Tubman and Her Legacy…
As an equal rights champion, Harriet Tubman played a pivotal role as an abolitionist, courageously leading enslaved individuals to freedom via the Underground Railroad and embraced the suffragist movement, passionately advocating for women’s right to vote.
We are proud of where we live, and we want everyone to know it! .
Listen and watch as local museum directors discuss why they are Proud to Live in Harriet Tubman’s Chosen Hometown
Follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman as you explore the places she frequented, hear stories of the people she knew, and the progress she made in the fight for abolition and women’s suffrage.
In partnership with Whetstone Magazine, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism has created a podcast dedicated to the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman.
You can download and listen from your preferred podcast supplier or read the full podcast from the links below:
Harriet Tubman Landmarks to Visit…
Seward House Museum
Fellow abolitionists and suffragists, the Seward Family, opened their home to fleeing slaves as a safe resting place. Now a public museum, the Seward House is a designated National Historic Landmark displaying one of America’s most original collections of historic homes.
Fort Hill Cemetery
Set on a hill overlooking Auburn, this site was used for burial mounds by Native Americans as early as 1100 A.D. The cemetery includes the burial sites of notable figures such as Harriet Tubman, William Seward, and Martha Coffin Wright and is open to the public.
Equal Rights Heritage Center
Experience the creative ways New Yorkers organized to stand for justice and learn about the key contributors from the 1800s to the modern day. Relax and unwind on the green space or admire the bronze statue of Harriet Tubman in the courtyard—a photo opportunity not to be missed—and find all travel resources like paper guides, maps, brochures, and I Love NY trip-planning kiosks at this one-stop tourist hub.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
The National Park Service preserves the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, where Tubman attended service for 22 years.
Harriet Tubman Home
The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. is an independent non-profit established by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to manage and operate the homestead of Ms. Tubman. The Harriet Tubman Home is charged with sharing Harriet Tubman’s core values with visitors through a guided tour of the property.
Tour Cayuga stands firmly against the erasure or revision of Harriet Tubman’s legacy, and proudly promotes her full story as a cornerstone of our heritage tourism, inviting visitors to experience the powerful, authentic history embedded in our community.