Civil Rights
New Yorkers have been proud to be at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights since the struggle for equality for every American began. New York State was a centre for abolitionism, the birthplace of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and the modern gay rights movement.
The State was also an important destination along the Underground Railroad and the Rochester Museum offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about this particular path to freedom. Many other important sites and the homes of the famous abolitionists are open to the public for tours, and visitors can pay their respects to both freed and enslaved Africans in Manhattan at the African Burial Ground.
Discover: Who the heroes were in the struggle to end slavery
Understand: How New York State became a leader in civil rights
Experience: Historic sites and museums respectfully preserving New York States civil rights history
If you like Civil Rights History, then you will love...
- The Robert H. Jackson Center, Jamestown, Chautauqua Allegheny - Tells the story of the country lawyer who went on to fight for justice, fairness and human decency as solicitor general, US. attorney, U.S Supreme Court justice and, perhaps most notably, as chief U.S prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II. www.roberthjackson.org
- Harriet Tubman Home, Auburn, Finger Lakes - This home honors this committed conductor on the Underground Railroad who served as a spy behind enemy lines during the Civil War and came to be known as the Moses of Her People. www.harriethouse.org
- The National Abolition Hall of Fame, Peterboro, Central NYS - Is where the New York State Anti-Slavery Society was formed in 1835, and honors abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and their work to end slavery. This Hall of Fame details the legacy of that struggle. www.nationalabolitionhalloffameandmuseum.org
- North Star Underground Railroad Museum, Adirondacks - Located in Ausable Chasm, this museum focuses on the history of the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad, with artifacts, including a leg iron, and other poignant exhibits portraying the stories of fugitives from slavery who passed through the region on their way to freedom in Canada. www.northcountryundergroundrailroad.com
For more must-see attractions and itinerary ideas for exploring the Civil Rights Movement in New York State click here
For further information on Civil Rights and A Path Through History...click here
