Harriet Tubman’s final mission: housing aged slaves nobody else would care for in post-Civil War America

Harriet Tubman Opens First Black Nursing Home

The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York preserves the remarkable story of America’s first nursing home for African Americans.

Visitors can explore the foundation remnants of John Brown Hall and tour the actual Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged building with guided tours that bring this pioneering chapter to life.

Most people know Harriet Tubman as the fearless conductor of the Underground Railroad, but fewer know about her final mission to care for elderly and poor African Americans in their twilight years.

At age 74, when most would consider retirement, Tubman embarked on her most challenging project yet.

She purchased 25 acres adjacent to her Auburn property with a bold vision to create a safe haven for those society had forgotten.

The journey from her 1896 land purchase to the 1908 opening of the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes reveals a story of determination, setbacks, and ultimately triumph that changed how America cared for its aging Black citizens.

Tubman Bought Land for Her Dream at Age 74

In 1895, Harriet Tubman talked with AME Zion Church leaders about creating a home for elderly Black folks with nowhere to go. The next year, at 74, she took action.

Tubman bought 25 acres next to her Auburn, New York home for $1,450 at a public auction. The land came with buildings she planned to use.

Congress gave Tubman a $20 monthly pension, which helped support her while she worked on this big project.

She Named the Main Building After Her Friend John Brown

Tubman picked one farm building as the main residence for her nursing home.

She called it “John Brown Hall” after her friend and fellow freedom fighter who had died years earlier. Brown respected Tubman and often called her “General Tubman” because she led so many people to freedom.

The building later became both the living space and care center for elderly residents.

White Supporters Wanted Her to Retire, Not Start a Nursing Home

Many white Auburn folks helped Tubman with her personal needs but didn’t want to back her nursing home plan. Most thought a woman in her 70s should enjoy a quiet retirement instead of starting such a big project.

Tubman struggled to raise money. Her $20 monthly pension barely covered her own costs, but she kept pushing forward anyway.

Money Problems Forced Her to Give the Property Away

By 1903, Tubman faced serious money troubles. She couldn’t pay the taxes or fund the nursing home operations.

She made the tough choice to give the entire property to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The church agreed to run the project as Tubman first planned.

This move saved her dream, though she lost ownership of the land she worked hard to buy.

Getting the Home Ready Took Five Long Years

After the AME Zion Church took over, they spent five years getting the nursing home ready. Workers fixed up buildings, bought furniture and medical supplies, and set up proper living spaces.

The church hired and trained staff to care for elderly Black residents. Progress moved slowly as money came in bits and pieces, but by 1908, everything stood ready to open.

Crowds Gathered to Watch Tubman’s Dream Come True

On June 23, 1908, people came together for the opening of the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes. The ceremony focused on John Brown Hall, which would house the first residents.

Tubman sat as the guest of honor, watching her 12-year journey reach its goal. Community members, church officials, and supporters came to celebrate this first-of-its-kind place in America.

The $100 Entry Fee Made Tubman Furious

When the church set a $100 entrance fee for new residents, Tubman got upset. She told people, “They make a rule that nobody should come in without they have a hundred dollars.

Now I wanted to make a rule that nobody should come in unless they didn’t have no money at all. ” This fee went against her goal of helping those with nothing.

The church kept the fee, saying it helped cover costs.

Elderly Residents Found Care and Community

From 1908 onward, the home started taking in residents who needed care in their final years. John Brown Hall served as both the main living space and medical facility.

Residents got regular meals, medical help, and a safe place to live. The home filled a big gap for elderly Black Americans, who faced unfair treatment at other places or simply couldn’t afford care elsewhere.

The Founder Became a Patient in Her Own Home

By 1911, Tubman’s health had gotten so bad that she needed care herself. She moved into John Brown Hall as a patient.

Tubman lived in the very building she had named after her friend, getting care alongside other residents.

Though her body grew weak, she stayed interested in the home’s daily life until she died in 1913 at about 91 years old.

Neighbors Helped Expand the Home After Tubman Died

Following Tubman’s death in 1913, community support for her project grew stronger. People donated money to fix up an old farmhouse near the front of the property.

This extra building let the home care for more elderly Black Americans. The fixed-up farmhouse opened in 1915, becoming another living space for the growing number of people seeking care.

The Home Served Residents for Nearly Twenty Years

From 1915 until the late 1920s, the expanded facility continued Tubman’s mission of caring for elderly African Americans.

The economic pressures of the Great Depression eventually forced the home to close its doors after nearly two decades of service.

During its operation, the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes helped countless people who had nowhere else to turn.

The facility represented Tubman’s final achievement, extending her humanitarian work beyond her famous Underground Railroad activities.

Visiting Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY tells the story of America’s first nursing home for African Americans.

The 32-acre campus at 180 and 182 South Street includes the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes, which she founded in 1896. Tours cost $7 for adults, $5 for seniors/college students, and $3 for kids 6-17.

You’ll need about 1 hour 45 minutes for the guided tour. The newly opened Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church is also part of the experience.

If you’re bringing a big group (25+), call ahead to make arrangements.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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