Include This Landmark Event in Your New York September Itinerary
Commemorate Underground Railroad Month, which is held every September, the month in which two of the most well-known freedom seekers and Underground Railroad operatives, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, escaped from slavery.
The Underground Railroad was a crucial network that helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the United States and Canada. It was more than just a physical route; it represented a powerful movement of resistance against slavery and a testament to the courage and resilience of those who sought liberation. The network provided safe houses, food, and guidance, enabling thousands to escape bondage.
New York State played a central role in the Underground Railroad as a major transit point, a hub for abolitionist activity, and a refuge for freedom seekers heading to Canada. Its waterways and canals, along with its border with Canada, provided crucial escape routes. Key figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass settled in New York after their escapes, and organizations in cities such as New York City, Rochester, Auburn, and Syracuse provided support, lodging, and funds to those fleeing slavery.
The state was home to many individuals and communities, including strong Quaker influences in places like Washington County, that provided safe houses and support to freedom seekers.
Abolitionist groups in cities like New York City provided crucial resources, such as food, lodging, and financial assistance, to help former slaves settle in their new communities. Upstate New York cities like Rochester and Auburn, where Douglass and Tubman lived, were vital centers for post-escape support. Syracuse was a key station along the Erie Canal route.
This September, you can explore New York’s Underground Railroad system from Brooklyn to Buffalo and everywhere in between.
From The Harriet Tubman National Historic Park to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center to the John W. Jones Museum in Elmira, there are many ways to learn about New York State’s and New Yorkers’ roles in the Underground Railroad.
For 13 places to experience Black history in New York, go here.
For more ideas on experiencing the Underground Railroad sites in New York State, go here.
