Harriet Tubman chose Auburn in 1859 because of what was already there: a Quaker abolitionist network, a sympathetic senator two blocks away, and proximity to the Canadian border routes she knew from conducting. She settled on a seven-acre farm at 180 South Street in Fleming, purchased through a private arrangement with the Seward family while she was legally a fugitive. She spent 54 years in Auburn after that: organizing, running the Home for the Aged for elderly African Americans, and supporting women's suffrage. The National Historical Park, established in 2017, encompasses the residence, the Home for the Aged, and the Thompson AME Zion Church. NPS rangers lead guided walks. Free admission. Open year-round. March 10 is observed annually as Harriet Tubman Day.















