As part of International Underground Railroad History Month, local officials, members of the media, and stakeholders were in attendance Saturday morning at the Equal Rights Heritage Center to learn more about efforts to tell the story of Harriet Tubman in the City of Auburn.
There were three speakers at the event: Ally Spongr, President of the Board of Directors of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State, Ahna Wilson, Park Superintendent of both the Harriet Tubman and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, and Executive Director of Cayuga County Tourism Karen Kuhl all spoke at the event.
Spongr discussed her organization’s efforts to have the route Tubman and other members of the Underground Railroad took through New York State designated as an official scenic byway, connecting Maryland to Canada. Recently, her group received grant funding for the Tubman Underground Railroad Corridor with the goals of getting byway designation and connecting Maryland to Niagara Falls with said byway.
Speaking with Finger Lakes News Radio, Spongr said this destination would benefit all of the Finger Lakes.
“This is the heart of the byway,” Spongr said, “because we have a lot of counties here that have Underground Railroad history and activity and sites here today that tell that story.”
Wilson gave an update on renovations being made to the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church on Parker Street. The National Park Service expects the facility to open in spring 2024.
Khul announced the tourism office’s efforts to promote Auburn as Harriet Tubman’s chosen hometown while also honoring the legacy of the abolitionists.
