Hometown History

The Harriet Tubman NHP Community Case is reserved for artifacts which help to tell the history of the Auburn community and Harriet Tubman's legacy.

NPS Photo / Objects via Seymour Library

All history, even that of national importance, is rooted in local communities.

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park preserves the story of Harriet Tubman’s life in Auburn, New York and the community she helped build at the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. The church and its parsonage are at the heart of the park, and we know that the stories of the people who lived, worked, and worshiped here are crucial to understanding Harriet Tubman's legacy of servant leadership in Auburn.

The National Park Service seeks to learn more about the A.M.E. Zion community following Tubman's passing. Do you have keepsakes and memories related to the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church or the Parsonage? Are you interested in loaning objects for display or sharing your stories?

If you would be willing to share family stories about Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church please email us and use “Community History” in the subject line. You may also call us at [phone].

Community Artifacts

The Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Parsonage was the home for generations of pastors who served the Parker Street church. Here, they lived with their families and served the people of their congregation and larger community. They were people of deep faith and devotion, and their stories are intrinsically linked with that of the church and Harriet Tubman.

One way to learn about past residents is through the objects they left behind. During the parsonage rehabilitation project from 2021-2024, items were found in the walls, closets, and basement of the building. These artifacts are not connected to Harriet Tubman's life in Auburn, but they reveal a great deal about the many people who once called this building home.

You may see some of these artifacts on display during your visit. Take some time to look at them, and think of the people who owned them. Their history is one that is still being written.