NPS March 10, 2026: Harriet Tubman Day – “Towards a More Perfect Union”Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is partnering with the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center and City of Auburn, NY to celebrate Harriet Tubman Day on March 10, 2026.
Officially proclaimed as a national holiday in 1990, Harriet Tubman Day honors the heroic life and legacy of Harriet Tubman on the date of her passing on March 10, 1913, in Auburn, New York. Special commemorative activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the historic Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, which was the site of Tubman’s 1913 funeral, and the Parsonage building next door, which serves as the Park’s visitor center. The theme for Harriet Tubman Day 2026 is “Towards a More Perfect Union,” as a connection to the Semiquincentennial of independence and Freedom 250. Drawn directly from the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the phrase speaks to the nation’s strength as not in perfection from the beginning, but in the courage of those, like Harriet Tubman, who demanded that America’s promises be expanded to all. Tubman’s life and legacy stand as a testament that a “more perfect union” is not achieved by words alone, but through the ongoing fight for freedom, rights, and human dignity. Join us for a day of special guest speakers, the city’s official Proclamation Ceremony and honoring of Tubman’s familial descendants, ranger programs, educational displays, family-friendly arts & crafts, and an evening community program at the Equal Rights Heritage Center. Step into the historical spaces and Auburn community in which Harriet Tubman lived and worshiped – and is remembered today, as one of America’s greatest champions of freedom and equality. Schedule of EventsHarriet Tubman National Historical Park, including the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and Parsonage, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. All activities are free and open to the public. The event schedule below is subject to change and is being updated regularly. Please check back prior to your visit to determine program times and locations. Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is the proud recipient of an accessibility grant from the National Park Foundation, providing American Sign Language interpretation for select special events. All programs marked (ASL) include interpretation provided by Interpretek. Timed Activities12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Harriet Tubman Day Proclamation Ceremony (ASL) Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church Auburn City Mayor James Giannettino, Jr. will present the “Harriet Tubman Day Proclamation” to the familial descendants of Harriet Tubman; followed by remarks by Rev. Paris V. Price of the Harriet Tubman Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and Ahna Wilson, Superintendent of Harriet Tubman NHP; and musical selections by Auburn City Councilwoman, Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson. 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Ranger Talk: “Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church: The Story of Community and Faith” (ASL) Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church The Thompson Memorial A.M.E Zion Church was built and opened in its current location in 1891 after congregants expressed the need for a larger edifice to hold church services. How were Harriet Tubman and the local community involved in the upbuilding of this church? Join a park ranger to explore Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, the sacred space in which Harriet Tubman worshipped, worked alongside her community, and the place that eventually served as the location of her 1913 funeral. This talk will also highlight the important role that the community played in preserving Tubman's legacy in Auburn and discusses challenges for the restoration of Black historical sites and the importance of protecting these sites. 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Ranger Talk: “The Deliverer: Excerpts from Night Flyer” (ASL) Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church Join a park ranger for a short reading and discussion centered around Harriet Tubman’s role as a community trust-builder focused on the importance of attaining equality for freedom seekers. Copies of the book, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People by Tiya Miles, are available for purchase at the Eastern National Bookstore. Eastern National Bookstore is open during regular hours at Women’s Rights National Historical Park (address: 136 Fall St, Seneca Falls, NY) All Day ActivitesSpecial activities will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion ChurchMemorial Tables honoring the lives and legacies of Karen Hill, President & CEO of the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc., & Pauline Copes Johnson, Harriet Tubman familial descendant. In memory of Karen Hill: As President and CEO of the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc., Karen led efforts to safeguard Tubman’s 32-acre property in Auburn, New York. Her vision and determination resulted in federal legislation establishing the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Karen’s advocacy extended beyond preservation. She promoted educational programs that emphasized Tubman’s role as an abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, and women’s suffrage supporter. Her voice reached a national audience through interviews on C-SPAN and other platforms, where she spoke passionately about Tubman’s enduring influence on freedom and equality. Karen was a proud graduate of Simmons College and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Order of the Eastern Star (Prince Hall Affiliation), and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Her faith and dedication to service laid the groundwork for her remarkable life. In memory of Pauline Copes Johnson: Pauline was born on August 23, 1927, in Auburn, NY to the late Guy and Jeanette Gaskins Copes. She was the great, great grandniece of Aunt Harriet Tubman. A member of the Harriet Tubman A.M.E. Zion Church in Auburn, she held the office of church clerk, trustee and steward boards emeritus – and even played the piano on some Sundays, for 70 years. Pauline was the first African American telephone operator in the Auburn Cayuga County area. She worked at several companies; the most notable being USF Red Star Express Lines where she worked in the office for 20 years. She traveled across the country to speak on the life of Harriet Tubman and “keep her name alive,” as she would say. She volunteered at the Harriet Tubman home when needed, and was an active member of the Harriet Tubman Boosters, NAACP, and Seniors of the Booker T Washington Community Center. Her family loves and respects her and is pleased and grateful for all she accomplished in life. Special Exhibit: “Reflections on a ‘Useful and Heroic Life’” Harriet Tubman dedicated her life to uplifting others and advocating for social change. Her legacy of humanitarianism has been interpreted in many ways since her death in 1913. Take a moment to read through excerpts from the speeches delivered at her funeral and the obituaries printed in newspapers across the United States to learn how Tubman was remembered in the days and weeks following her passing. There will also be a hands-on reflection activity. Community “Wish Wall” for the 250th As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, museums & community spaces across the country are capturing Americans’ hopes and dreams for the future on “Wish Walls,” coordinated nationally by Made By Us. Visitors are invited to write their own wishes, inspired by Harriet Tubman’s example, for Auburn and for America at the 250th and beyond. Make-and-Take “Inspiration Bracelets” (while supplies last) Word bracelets are a great way to give yourself a daily reminder of what inspires you. Harriet Tubman’s bravery, compassion, and resilience are an inspiration to many people who learn about her story. Take a moment to create your own “inspiration” bracelet to remind you of Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy. Make-and-Take Harriet Tubman Buttons & Coloring Sheets ParsonageSpecial Exhibit: “Community Case: Celebrating Harriet Tubman” Learn about the community that Harriet Tubman was a part of in Auburn, and which continues to uphold her legacy of faith and service, through the park’s rotating “Community Case” display. Currently on display are birthday cards local school children made in 2022 for the 200th anniversary of Tubman's birth. NPS Passport Cancellation Station Earn your Junior Ranger badge by completing the Harriet Tubman Junior Ranger activity book! Evening Program from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ASL)Location: NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center This special evening community program from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. is hosted in partnership with the nearby NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, which is located at 25 South Street, Auburn, NY. Rev. Paul G. Carter of the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. will provide opening remarks; followed by keynote speaker: Dr. Tanisha M. Jackson, African American Studies Professor at Syracuse University and Executive Director of the Community Folk Art Center. "Freedom Is a Practice: Harriet Tubman, Black Women’s Cultural Work, and the Making of a More Perfect Union” Harriet Tubman’s life reminds us that freedom is not a static ideal—it is an ongoing practice. In this lecture, Dr. Tanisha Jackson places Tubman’s legacy in conversation with contemporary Black women artists who build creative spaces rooted in wellness, mutual care, and social transformation. Through historical reflection and contemporary case studies, this talk explores how Black women’s cultural work functions as a form of civic leadership and grassroots democracy. By examining art-making as liberation work, we consider how communities continue Tubman’s charge to demand justice and expand the meaning of citizenship. Presenter Bio: Dr. Tanisha M. Jackson is an accomplished scholar, educator, and cultural leader serving as an assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies and the executive director of the Community Folk Art Center at Syracuse University. With a strong commitment to advancing diversity, and excellence, Dr. Jackson combines her expertise in Africana Studies, cultural programming, and community engagement to inspire creativity and foster meaningful connections through the arts. At CFAC, Dr. Jackson oversees a multidisciplinary art and cultural space that highlights the contributions of artists of African descent while providing transformative experiences for the Syracuse community. Her leadership has expanded CFAC’s reach through dynamic exhibitions, artist residencies, and community-based programming that integrates art, education, and wellness. Dr. Jackson’s academic work focuses on the intersection of art, identity, and wellness, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Black women artists. Her book Black Women Art Ecosystems: Sites of Wellness and Self-Care (University of Illinois Press, 2025), looks at Black women who use their artwork as acts of resistance, self-expression, and holistic wellness.
Dr. Jackson holds a Ph.D. in Art Education, an M.A. in African American and African Studies, and a B.A. in English, all at The Ohio State University. She also earned an Executive Master of Business Administration from The University of Toledo. She brings a wealth of experience in higher education, community engagement, and cultural advocacy to her role at Syracuse University. She is deeply passionate about using the arts to inspire change, build community, and celebrate the rich legacies of African and African American cultures. American Sign Language interpretation is made possible through a National Park Foundation grant and Interpretek. There will also be activity tables staffed by Harriet Tubman NHP rangers with make-and-take Harriet Tubman Day buttons; and the Harriet Tubman Boosters community group with a fun photo station. |
Last updated: February 24, 2026