Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park that commemorates the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, a prominent Abolitionist and Women's suffrage activist, who was also a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The park is located in Auburn, New York, where Harriet Tubman lived and worked, and is managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Harriet Tubman Home, the Auburn Community Preservation Committee, and the Tubman Home, which was established by Harriet Tubman herself. The park also includes the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, where Harriet Tubman attended services, and the Fort Hill Cemetery, where she is buried, near other notable figures such as William Seward and Matilda Joslyn Gage.

● History

The history of the park is closely tied to the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, and escaped to freedom in the Northern United States through the Underground Railroad, with the help of Abolitionists such as William Still and John Brown. After gaining her freedom, Harriet Tubman returned to the Southern United States multiple times, helping hundreds of enslaved individuals escape to freedom, and earning the nickname "Moses" for her bravery and leadership, which was recognized by Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. The park was established on January 10, 2017, as part of the National Park Service's efforts to preserve and commemorate the history of the Underground Railroad and the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, who was also a Women's suffrage activist and worked closely with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The park is also part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which includes other historic sites such as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and the Sojourner Truth House.

● Geography

The park is located in Auburn, New York, in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, near other notable sites such as the Women's Rights National Historical Park and the Erie Canal. The park includes several historic buildings and sites, including the Harriet Tubman Home, the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Fort Hill Cemetery, which are all located within a few miles of each other, and are near other historic sites such as the Seward House Museum and the Matilda Joslyn Gage Home. The park is situated in a region of rolling hills and scenic countryside, with several nearby lakes and waterways, including Cayuga Lake and the Seneca River, which were important routes for the Underground Railroad and were used by Harriet Tubman and other Abolitionists.

● Features

The park features several historic buildings and sites, including the Harriet Tubman Home, which was established by Harriet Tubman herself as a home for elderly African Americans, and the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, where Harriet Tubman attended services and was involved in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church community, which was also supported by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. The park also includes the Fort Hill Cemetery, where Harriet Tubman is buried, near other notable figures such as William Seward and Matilda Joslyn Gage, and the Seward House Museum, which showcases the life and legacy of William Seward, a prominent Abolitionist and United States Secretary of State. Visitors to the park can take guided tours of the historic buildings and sites, and learn about the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and the history of the Underground Railroad, which was also supported by John Quincy Adams and Charles Sumner.

● Conservation

The park is managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Harriet Tubman Home, the Auburn Community Preservation Committee, and the Tubman Home, which works to preserve and protect the historic buildings and sites, and to promote the legacy of Harriet Tubman and the history of the Underground Railroad, which is also recognized by the National Historic Preservation Act and the African American Heritage Preservation Foundation. The park is also part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which includes other historic sites such as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and the Sojourner Truth House, and works to preserve and promote the history of the Underground Railroad and the lives of Abolitionists such as John Brown and William Still. The park's conservation efforts are supported by organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the African American Heritage Preservation Foundation, which work to preserve and protect historic sites and promote cultural heritage, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

● Tourism

The park attracts visitors from all over the world, who come to learn about the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and the history of the Underground Railroad, which is also recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Visitors to the park can take guided tours of the historic buildings and sites, and participate in educational programs and events, such as the Harriet Tubman Freedom Music Festival and the Auburn Community Preservation Committee's annual Harriet Tubman Day celebration, which is also supported by the National Park Service and the African American Heritage Preservation Foundation. The park is also a popular destination for African American heritage tourism, and is part of the African American Heritage Trail, which includes other historic sites such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the National Civil Rights Museum, which are also recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and the American Institute of Architects.