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New York United States

A Guide Notable People Buried at Fort Hill Cemetery

Fort Hill Cemetery, located in Auburn, New York, is a historic burial ground established in 1851 on the site of a former fortified village used by the Indigenous Cayuga people, one of the original five nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. The cemetery was designed during the rural cemetery movement, which emphasized park-like landscapes and scenic beauty, and it features winding paths, mature trees, and striking monuments. 

The cemetery also includes the Mary Talbot Memorial Chapel, built in 1893, and various Civil War memorials, making it both a place of reflection and a site of significant historical importance. Fort Hill Cemetery remains active today, preserving its legacy as a vital part of Auburn’s cultural and historical heritage.

Visiting Fort Hill Cemetery

Physical Address:  19 Fort Street Cemetery, Auburn NY 13021

Notable People Buried at Fort Hill Cemetery

Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913)

Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist, humanitarian, and one of the most iconic figures of the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery in Maryland, she escaped to freedom in the North and then risked her life repeatedly to help others do the same. During the Civil War, she served as a scout, nurse, and spy for the Union Army. Later in life, she advocated for women’s suffrage and established a home for elderly African Americans in Auburn. Tubman is widely regarded as a symbol of courage and freedom.

William H. Seward (1801–1872)

William Henry Seward was a prominent American politician who served as Governor of New York, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He was a strong opponent of slavery and played a crucial role in keeping foreign powers out of the Civil War. Seward is perhaps best known for orchestrating the 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia, initially ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly” but later recognized as a visionary move.

Frances Adeline Seward (1805–1865)

Frances Seward was the wife of William H. Seward and an active abolitionist in her own right. She supported the Underground Railroad and used her home in Auburn as a safe house for escaped slaves. She was deeply involved in social justice causes and was known for her progressive views on education and women’s rights.

Martha Coffin Wright (1806–1875)

Martha Coffin Wright was a suffragist, abolitionist, and social reformer. She was one of the organizers of the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls in 1848 and was a close associate of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Wright was also active in the abolitionist movement and supported the Underground Railroad.

Thomas Mott Osborne (1859–1926)

Thomas Mott Osborne was a progressive prison reformer and warden of Sing Sing Prison in New York. He was known for his advocacy of the “mutual welfare league” system, which encouraged inmate self-governance. Osborne’s reforms helped lay the foundation for modern rehabilitation-focused corrections systems.

What is there to do nearby?

Fort Hill Cemetery is located in Auburn, New York on the north end of Owasco Lake.  This small town has an interesting history and was once home to William H. Seward and Harriet Tubman.  The homes of these national icons are some of the most popular attractions in the city.  

🏛️ Harriet Tubman National Historical Park

Distance from Fort Hill Cemetery: ~1 mile
What to See: Harriet Tubman’s home, the Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, and the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes
Why Visit: Learn about the life and legacy of one of America’s most heroic abolitionists
Hours: Vary by season and building – check NPS website for details

🖼️ Cayuga Museum of History & Art

Distance from Fort Hill Cemetery: ~0.7 miles
What to See: Local history exhibits, Case Research Lab (birthplace of sound film technology)
Why Visit: Great for history buffs and film lovers alike
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: cayugamuseum.org

⛪ Willard Memorial Chapel

Distance from Fort Hill Cemetery: ~1 mile
What to See: Fully preserved interior designed by Louis C. Tiffany
Why Visit: A rare and stunning example of original Tiffany work in its original setting
Hours: Tours available Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: willardchapel.org

🗽 New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center

Distance from Fort Hill Cemetery: ~0.5 miles
What to See: Interactive exhibits on New York’s role in the movements for abolition, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights
Why Visit: Inspiring and informative, with a modern layout and a welcome center for Auburn
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: equalrightsheritage.com

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Categories
National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores New York United States

Women’s Rights National Historical Park- Paving the Way for Equality

Did you know that the Women’s Suffrage Movement lasted nearly 100 years?  The movement fought for women to have the right to vote in the United States.   It wasn’t until August 18, 1920, that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, granting women this right.  The Women’s Rights National Historical Park encapsulates many locations that were pivotal in this campaign.

In 1848, a group of abolitionist activists gathered in Seneca Falls, New York, to converse about Women’s Rights.  They planned a two-day convention to amplify their cause.  This convention would end up changing the course of women’s history in the United States.

In the election of 1920, more than 8 million women made their way to the polls to vote for the very first time.  Unfortunately, the founders of the movement did not live long enough to cast their first vote.  Still, we honor them at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

Women’s Rights National Historical Park

The Women’s Rights National Historical Park was established in 1980 in Seneca Falls, New York. The park consists of four properties that were important to the Women’s Suffrage Movement. These buildings include the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, the M’Clintock House, and the Richard Hunt House.

The homes that are part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park served as meeting grounds for the drafting of the Declaration of Sentiments and other important historical documents.  The Declaration of Sentiments was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and was the backbone for the Women’s Suffrage Movement that lasted until 1920.  

The Visitor's Center

The Visitor Center houses a massive, stunning life-size bronze sculpture of twenty men and women who attended the first Women’s Rights Convention.  The statue, The First Wave, includes the figures of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Richard and Jane Hunt, James and Lucretia Mott,  Thomas and Mary Ann M’Clintock, Martha Wright, and Frederick Douglass.

The two-day convention took place on July 19 and 20 in 1848, with more than 300 people in attendance.  Many of the attendees signed a “Declaration of Sentiments,” which declared that “all men and women are created equal.”

Wesleyan Methodist Church

Wesleyan Methodist Church is part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park complex.  It was constructed in 1843 and was the site of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the first Women’s Rights Convention.   It was here that about 300 people came together to hear Elizabeth Cady Stanton demand the right for women to vote.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Houes

This historic home, located at 32 Washington Street, was the home of suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton from 1847 to 1862.  The home is now a museum and a cornerstone for the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

The oldest portion of the home, the south wing, dates back to before 1830.  The north wing was added around 1840.  Henry and Elizabeth Cady Stanton eventually moved in 1847.  

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American writer and activist who led the Women’s Rights Movement.  She was the primary force behind the Seneca Falls Convention and the primary author of the Declaration of Sentiments.  She was also active in abolitionism.

She met Susan B. Anthony, another key social reformer and activist, in 1851.  The women formed a decades-long partnership that was a key to the development of the Women’s Rights Movement.  The women then went on to form the American Equal Rights Association, which campaigned for equal rights for people of color and women.

The home was acquired by the National Park Service in 1982 and became part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

M'Clintock House

This historic two-story, Federal style home was home to the Quaker pharmacist Thomas M’Clintock and his wife Mary Ann.  The home was used as a meeting space to write the Declaration of Sentiments, resolutions, and speeches for the Women’s Rights Convention.  Today, the home stands as an important part of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.  

Mary Ann M’Clintock and her husband, Thomas, were active in anti-slave movements in Philadelphia.  Mary Ann was one of the founding members of the Philadelphia Female Ani-Slavery Society, where she became close to abolitionist Lucretia Mott.  

Richard Hunt House

The Hunt House is located in the nearby town of Waterloo.  This stately home was the residence of the Hunt family.   This home is where Jane Hunt, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Martha Coffin Wright, and Mary Ann M’Clintock planned the First Women’s Rights Convention.

Jane Clothier Hunt was an American Quaker who believed in social reform and equal rights.  Mr. and Mrs. Hunt’s home is thought to have served as a station in the Underground Railroad.  

Votes For Women History Trail

The Votes For Women History Trail was created in 2009.  The trail is a drivable route that links sights throughout upstate New York that were important to the Women’s Suffrage Movement. 

Sites on the trail include:

  • Susan B. Anthon House (Rochester)
  • Mount Hope Cemetery (Rochester)
  • Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell Childhood Home (Henrietta)
  • M’Clintock House (Waterloo)
  • Women’s Rights National Historical Park

Fun Fact:  The term womxn has been in print since the 1970s as an alternative to the word “woman” or “women”.  The term was created to avoid perceived sexism in the standard spelling, which contains the word “man” or “men”.

Visiting Women's Rights National Historical Park

Physical Address: 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY

The Women’s Rights National Historical Park is open daily with reduced programming during the winter months.  The site is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.  

All sites and events are free.

Fun Fact:  Harriet Tubman played a role in the Women’s Suffrage Movement.  She traveled to New York, Boston, and DC to speak out in favor of women’s votings rights. She is buried in the nearby Fort Hill Cemetery and there is a National Historical Park nearby in her honor.

What is there to do Nearby?

  • Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
  • Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park
  • Chimney Bluffs State Park
  • Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
  • Fort Stanwix National Monument
  • Robert H. Treman State Park

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Post updated: 4/29/25

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