It is surprisingly quiet. Most people expect a towering monument or a sprawling national cemetery when they go looking for the Harriet Tubman burial site, but that isn't what you find in Auburn, New York. Instead, you get a simple hillside. Fort Hill Cemetery is massive, filled with the kind of Victorian-era stone angels and massive obelisks that scream "important people live here." But Tubman? Her spot is tucked under the shade of a large cedar tree. It’s humble. It’s real.
She died in 1913. Think about that for a second. She lived long enough to see the dawn of the 20th century, passing away from pneumonia at the age of 91. When she was laid to rest, it wasn't just a local affair; it was a moment of national transition. Today, visiting her grave isn't just a checkbox on a history tour. It’s a pilgrimage. You’ll see it immediately when you walk up the path: the headstone is almost always covered in "offerings." People leave railway spikes, pennies (face up, usually), smooth river stones, and even dried flowers. It's a living site.
The Reality of Fort Hill Cemetery
If you’re driving into Auburn, you might miss the entrance to Fort Hill. It’s located at 19 Fort Street. The cemetery itself is built on the site of an ancient Alleghany Indian fortification. There’s a strange, heavy energy to the ground.
Most visitors head straight for the "West Lawn" section. That’s where the Harriet Tubman burial site is located. You’re looking for Section 21. Look, I’ll be honest—the signage is okay, but it’s easy to get turned around because the paths wind and twist like a maze. You might find yourself standing in front of the massive monument to William H. Seward first. Seward was the Secretary of State who basically sold Tubman the land for her farm when it was actually illegal to do so. They were friends. They were neighbors. It makes sense they are buried in the same soil, but their graves couldn't look more different. Seward’s is a grand statement. Tubman’s is a whisper.
The headstone we see today isn't the original one from 1913. That one was even smaller. The current marker was erected by the Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs in 1937. It’s made of granite. On the back, there’s an inscription that mentions she was a "Slave, Scout, Nurse, and Spy."
It’s a lot to take in.
Why Auburn? The Freedom Land Connection
People often ask why she isn't buried in Maryland. She was born there, after all. She escaped from Dorchester County. But Maryland was the land of her bondage; Auburn was the land of her choosing.
She moved here in 1859. She bought a seven-acre farm from Seward for $1,200. It’s kind of wild to think about a formerly enslaved woman owning property in a New York town before the Civil War even ended. She brought her parents here. She brought her brothers. For Tubman, Auburn was the "promised land." She spent over 50 years of her life in this town. She founded the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged right down the street.
When you stand at the Harriet Tubman burial site, you are looking out toward the town she helped shape. She wasn't just a figure in a history book to the people here; she was "Aunt Harriet." She sold vegetables from her garden. She bricked her own house. She walked these streets. The cemetery isn't just a place where she's "kept"—it’s part of the neighborhood she guarded until her last breath.
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The Military Honors Controversy
There is a bit of a misconception about her burial. While she was buried with military honors, it wasn't the kind of full-scale honors you’d see for a General at Arlington. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) handled the service. They were the veterans' organization for Union soldiers.
Tubman had fought for decades to get her pension. She was eventually granted one, but mostly because she was the widow of a veteran (Nelson Davis), not initially for her own service as a spy and scout for the Union Army. It was a slap in the face. But at her funeral, the veterans showed up. They knew who she was. They stood at attention.
- Location: Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, NY.
- Section: West Lawn, Section 21.
- Key Detail: The grave is marked by a large cedar tree.
- Pro Tip: If the gate is closed, there is often a pedestrian entrance near the main stone pillars.
What You’ll See on the Headstone
The front of the marker is simple. It says:
TUBMAN
1820 — 1913
HARRIET TUBMAN DAVIS
She married Nelson Davis in 1869. He was significantly younger than her—about 20 years younger—and he was a veteran of the United States Colored Troops. He died of tuberculosis long before she did. He’s actually buried nearby, but Harriet is the one everyone comes to see.
The reverse side of the stone is where the real story is told. It quotes her own words (or at least, the sentiment she lived by): "I can't die but once." It’s a gut-punch of a line. It’s a reminder that she lived every day with the knowledge that her life was at risk.
Sometimes, the local historical society or the National Park Service rangers are around. They’ll tell you that the coins left on the headstone have meaning. In military tradition, leaving a coin means you visited. A penny means you just stopped by to pay respects. A nickel might mean you trained with the person. For Tubman, people have adapted this. They leave dimes and quarters to symbolize their commitment to her legacy of social justice.
The Best Time to Visit
If you want peace, go in late October. The trees in Upstate New York turn these violent shades of orange and red. The cemetery is an arboretum, so the foliage is spectacular.
Winter is different. It’s harsh. Auburn gets hammered by lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario. I’ve seen photos of the Harriet Tubman burial site buried under three feet of snow, with only a small path shoveled out by a dedicated local. There’s something powerful about seeing that stone standing firm in the cold. It matches her personality.
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Spring is muddy. The ground at Fort Hill gets soft. But that’s when the lilies start to pop up.
If you go during Black History Month (February) or around the anniversary of her death (March 10), expect crowds. Not "Disney" crowds, but a steady stream of tour buses and school groups. If you want a moment of actual reflection, aim for a Tuesday morning in the summer.
Things to Keep in Mind
You’re in a cemetery. It sounds obvious, right? But because this is a "tourist destination," some people forget it’s an active burial ground. People are still being buried at Fort Hill.
- Don't take rubbings. The stone is granite, but constant friction from charcoal and paper wears down the inscriptions over decades. Just take a photo.
- Watch the tree. The cedar tree overhanging the grave is old. Don't climb on the roots or peel the bark. It’s part of the site’s "vibe," and the cemetery works hard to keep it healthy.
- Check the hours. The gates usually close at dusk. Don't try to hop the fence; Auburn police do patrol the area, and it’s disrespectful to the residents.
Beyond the Grave: The Rest of the Auburn Trail
You can't just see the grave and leave. That’s like reading the last page of a book and claiming you know the story.
About a mile and a half down the road is the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. This is her actual farm. You can see the house she built out of brick. You can see the site of the Home for the Aged. The National Park Service (NPS) took over management of the site relatively recently—it was a long, hard-fought battle to get it national recognition.
The Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church is also crucial. It’s on Parker Street. This was Tubman’s church. It’s where her funeral was held. The building is currently undergoing massive restoration because, frankly, it was falling apart for years. It’s a reminder that history requires maintenance. It’s not just "there"; we have to keep it standing.
Common Misconceptions
One thing that drives local historians crazy is the idea that there are "tunnels" from the Underground Railroad under the cemetery. There aren't. Tubman didn't use tunnels in Auburn. By the time she was living here, she was a famous figure. She didn't need to hide in the dirt.
Another myth? That she was born in 1820. We don't actually know. Records for enslaved people were non-existent or kept in haphazard ledgers. Most scholars now point to 1822 as the likely year, based on midwife records and census data, but the headstone says 1820. We stick with the headstone because that’s what the family and the women's clubs decided on in 1937.
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Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you are planning a trip to the Harriet Tubman burial site, do it with intention.
First, download the "NPS App" and search for Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. It has a self-guided audio tour that is actually decent. It isn't boring. It’s narrated with a lot of heart.
Second, stop by the Equal Rights Heritage Center in downtown Auburn first. It’s right next to the Seward House Museum. It’s a modern building with clean bathrooms (important for travelers!) and incredible maps of the city. They have a statue of Harriet out front that is "human scale." You can stand next to her and realize she was only about five feet tall. It puts her strength into perspective.
Third, bring a small stone or a penny. It’s a way to participate in the communal memory of the site.
Lastly, eat at a local spot. Auburn is a working-class town. It’s got great diners and a growing brewery scene. Support the community that supported her. Tubman loved Auburn because the people here—black and white—protected her. When bounty hunters came looking for her, the locals made sure they didn't find her.
Visiting the Harriet Tubman burial site isn't about looking at a piece of rock. It’s about standing in the place where a woman who changed the course of American history finally found some rest. She spent her whole life moving. She spent her life running, walking, carrying people, and fighting. In Section 21 of Fort Hill, she’s finally still.
Take a moment. Listen to the wind in that cedar tree. It’s one of the few places in this country where history feels like it’s still breathing.