The National Park Service (NPS) is set to host two public meetings this week to provide information about the opening of the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, a significant site within the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn. An open house will be held on Tuesday, June 13, followed by a presentation during the Auburn Historic Resources Review Board meeting. The NPS aims to share details about the restoration and preservation of the church and parsonage, both integral parts of the park.
The church, where Harriet Tubman attended services and was laid to rest in 1913, will be open to visitors later this summer. The restoration project, costing approximately $3 million for the church and $1.9 million for the parsonage, was funded by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation. The NPS has replicated the historic stenciling inside the church and installed a new 12-foot steeple. The original bell will be on display, with a replica bell replacing it in the church tower. The parsonage will serve as a visitor center, and the NPS will have offices on the second floor.
While the details of parking and transportation are still being determined, the NPS plans to have the church open during the spring, summer, and fall seasons, with the parsonage open year-round. The opening of the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church is a significant milestone for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, which was formally established in 2017 and encompasses the Tubman Home property on South Street, as well as the church and parsonage on Parker Street.
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