This Upstate New York National Historical Park Is Reopening a Landmark That Honors Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, is getting a new landmark that honors the American abolitionist and social activist.

After a meticulous restoration and rehabilitation process, the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and Parsonage is reopening to the public on June 22, offering visitors a profound glimpse into the final chapter of Tubman’s remarkable life. For Tubman, the church was not merely a sacred place of worship — it was also a source of communal support, a platform for anti-slavery activism, and the site of her funeral in 1913. 

“Tubman’s dedication to this church was unwavering throughout her 22 years as a member, and she even used her own funds to contribute to its construction,” Brittany Lane, lead park ranger for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, told Travel + Leisure.

While Tubman is most renowned for her courageous role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, guiding approximately 70 individuals to freedom, Lane said, “Even amongst these accomplishments, it’s important to recognize that she led a private life full of compassion, service, and advocacy, which is why preserving historical sites like these is crucial.”

Following her service as a Union spy, scout, and nurse during the Civil War, Tubman returned to her home in Auburn — a property she had purchased in 1859 from Frances Seward, wife of Sen. William Seward. Here, she cared for her family, including her aging parents, while continuing her humanitarian efforts by providing shelter, food, clothing, and medical aid to those in need. She was also active in the women’s suffrage movement in Auburn. 

Tubman’s regard for others led her to acquire land adjacent to her home, with the intention to create a nursing home for low-income and elderly people in Auburn. With the support of the A.M.E. Zion church community, the Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes operated from 1908 until the early 1920s, with Tubman herself residing there as a patient until her passing in 1913.

Today, visitors to the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and Parsonage can learn about Tubman and the Auburn community through various informational exhibits. The church building and parsonage, both owned by the National Park Service, are part of the national historical park along with Tubman’s former brick home, a visitor center, an administrative building, and the reconstructed Home for the Aged and Indigent Negroes, which are privately owned.

Lane hopes that as the park grows, it will serve as “a welcoming place where the community can once again gather and celebrate Tubman’s life and legacy.”