Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in 1820. After escaping in 1849, she became a leading abolitionist, helping to free hundreds of other slaves through the Underground Railroad. In 1859, Tubman purchased a home in Auburn, New York, which served as a station on the Underground Railroad.
The house also served as a refuge for Tubman and her family, as well as a gathering place for the local African-American community. Today, the Harriet Tubman Home is a National Historic Landmark and a registered state historic site.
Visitors can tour the house and learn about Tubman’s life and work.
Here are 6 fascinating facts about the life of Harriet Tubman, an American abolitionist and civil rights activist:
- Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1822. She escaped to freedom in 1849 and became a leading figure in the Underground Railroad, helping to lead hundreds of enslaved people to freedom.
- In 1858, Tubman helped rescue her family from slavery in a daring raid known as the Combahee River Raid. This was one of the most successful military operations of the Civil War and helped to liberate more than 750 people from enslavement.
- Tubman was an active participant in the Civil War, serving as a nurse, cook, and spy for the Union Army. She also helped raise money for African American troops through her work with the Sanitary Commission.
- Following the war, Tubman settled in Auburn, New York, where she helped to care for aging African Americans and worked for women’s suffrage.
- In 1896, Tubman was diagnosed with epilepsy. However, she continued to be active in social causes throughout her life, including working for civil rights and education for African Americans.
- Harriet Tubman died in 1913 at the age of 91.
