Auburn

Auburn is a small town with a big history waiting to be explored. Start your day visiting the Harriet Tubman House museum to learn more about the life and achievements of this great American abolitionist, nurse and suffragette. Tubman lived in Auburn for the last half of her life, turning her home into a safe haven for fugitive slaves and their families and founding the Harriet Tubman Home for the Elderly. Tour the small museum, which focuses as much on Tubman as a woman as a public figure.

Continue your tour of “History’s Hometown” at the Seward House Museum. William Henry Seward, who served as Lincoln’s secretary of state, and his wife, were staunch abolitionists who made Auburn a stop on the Underground Railroad. Their home, filled with artifacts and staffed by enthusiastic and well-trained volunteers, offers a little-seen, fascinating perspective on 19th-century America. See the future at the Schweinfurth Art Center, with revolving contemporary art exhibits from renowned artists. During the summer, delight in the annual Quilting by the Lake festival.

The Finger Lakes are perfect for lovers of beer and wine. For a perfect afternoon, enjoy a local craft beer while gazing at beautiful Owasco Lake. The second weekend of August, watch thousands participating in the Great Race, one of the largest relay races in America. Walk down the South Street Area National Historic Register District, appreciating scores of national historic buildings and beautiful architecture. Downtown Auburn is fairly small, so park your car and explore the charming streets on foot.

Reach Auburn in 40 minutes by car from Syracuse, New York, where airport, rail and bus connections take you to regional, national and international destinations.

Whether you are new to the study of the past or a Civil War history buff, Auburn is the perfect place to deepen your knowledge while enjoying the beauty of New York’s Finger Lakes.