New York State announced on May 6 a variety of travel opportunities for families to explore historic sites tied to Black history, as well as hands-on learning destinations across the state. The announcement outlines locations where visitors can learn about abolitionists, freedom seekers, and Black communities that played significant roles in the nation’s pursuit of liberty.
These sites offer educational experiences that connect travelers with stories from the Underground Railroad, influential community leaders, and preserved landmarks. They also provide interactive spaces where children can engage with science, nature, agriculture, and creativity while traveling.
The Travel With Tubman initiative allows visitors to follow Harriet Tubman’s legacy through several historic sites in New York. After escaping slavery herself, Tubman made New York her home and became a central figure in efforts to help others gain freedom. Travelers can visit the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn along with other churches and community landmarks connected to abolitionist networks.
In Elmira’s John W. Jones Museum, guests learn about Jones—a formerly enslaved man who helped approximately 800 people escape slavery via the Underground Railroad—and his impact on local history. The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro honors those who led anti-slavery movements by offering exhibits within a building that hosted the first meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society in 1835.
Additional destinations include Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn—once one of America’s largest free Black communities—and Lower Manhattan’s African Burial Ground National Monument which preserves an important burial site for enslaved and free Africans from colonial times. At Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center near the Canadian border, exhibitions tell stories of those crossing into Canada seeking freedom.
Beyond historical exploration, New York offers many hands-on experiences such as The Wild Center’s treetop walkways in Tupper Lake; glassmaking at Corning Museum of Glass; farm activities at Queens County Farm Museum; art programs at The Studio Museum in Harlem; marine education at Via Aquarium; rural life demonstrations at Fenimore Farm & Country Village; animal encounters at Animal Adventure Park; outdoor discovery at Hudson Highlands Nature Museum; music workshops at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts; and immersive Adirondack wilderness exhibits at Adirondack Experience – The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake.
As preparations continue toward America’s 250th anniversary, these destinations invite families not only to reflect on past struggles for freedom but also inspire curiosity among young learners through engaging travel experiences.
