Harriet Tubman & Women’s Rights Parks to Co-host Underground Railroad Week

Contact: Anneliese Meck, (315) 568-0024

Contact: Shannon Walsh

Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park will host a joint Underground Railroad special event week from September 16 to September 21, 2025. The Underground Railroad is one of the most remarkable stories of collective resistance in American history, where ordinary people came together, often at great personal risk, to assist formerly enslaved people on their journey to freedom. This movement is honored annually in September during International Underground Railroad Month.

Throughout the event week, both parks will feature special guest speakers, pop-up ranger programs, family-friendly crafts, and educational displays - highlighting the significance of the Underground Railroad and the roles that prominent women's rights activists and abolitionists played in supporting a network of freedom-seekers and their allies. Special programs will be offered during regular park operating hours at both locations.

Featured speakers & community partnerships include:

• Tuesday, September 17 at the Cayuga Museum (203 Genesee St, Auburn, NY): "The Underground Railroad as Afrofuturism: Exploring New Galaxies in the Outer Spaces of Slavery" with Dr. dann j. Broyld, author of Borderland Blacks. Please note: this is an evening program with ASL interpretation thanks to a grant from the National Park Foundation. Dr. Broyld will appear virtually.

• Thursday, September 18 at Women's Rights NHP: "The Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman in Her Birth State of Maryland" with Joanna Trojanowski of the Maryland Park Service and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NHP (joining virtually).

• Friday, September 19 at Harriet Tubman NHP: "Forged in Freedom: The Sewards and the Underground Railroad" with Kate Grindstaff of the Seward House Museum

• Friday-Sunday, September 19 - 21 at Women's Rights NHP: "Conscience Over Commerce: M'Clintock Family and the Free Produce Movement" with Ranger Josh Pelham.

At Women's Rights NHP in Seneca Falls, NY, visitors will have the chance to tour the historic M'Clintock House (14 E Williams St, Waterloo, NY), which is only open for special events, and learn about the family's abolitionist activities through their general store. Visitors can also attend regularly scheduled and pop-up ranger programs (various scheduled times); and make-and-take their own constellations, inspired by the same stars that offered direction and hope to freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman NHP in Auburn, NY, will offer ASL interpreted ranger talks (September 19); a special exhibit on archeological finds from the Parsonage rehabilitation project; make-and-take activities; and additional information about Network to Freedom sites throughout Cayuga County.

Women's Rights National Historical Park is open 7 days a week, Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm, and Friday-Sunday 9am-5pm. It is located at 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls.

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is open Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm. It is located at 47 Parker Street, Auburn.

For program times and additional details, visit https://www.nps.gov/hart/planyourvisit/special-events.htm