Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)

Civil War hero. Self-made entrepreneur. Philanthropist.

Harriet Tubman, born Araminta “Minty” Ross, is probably the most well-known of all the Underground Railroad’s conductors. In all of her journeys, as she once proudly pointed out to Frederick Douglass, she “never lost a single passenger.” What is not as well-known is that Harriet lived as a free woman for 50 years in Auburn, New York. 

Against all odds – she was black, enslaved, disabled, and a woman – Harriet became a self-made entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an ardent suffrage supporter, and the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the Civil War. She was buried with military honors and has become an iconic brave woman, providing inspiration to women and girls throughout history. 

In 2019, she was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Harriet. Come experience her story firsthand by visiting her gravesite as well as her home and other spots where she spent many fruitful years in the Finger Lakes region.