Harriet Tubman’s Descendant to Share Her Powerful Story in Binghamton

If you care about history, family stories, or the people who shaped our country, this is something you’ll want to be part of.

The Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity at Binghamton University is inviting you to celebrate Harriet Tubman Day with a powerful and personal presentation from one of Tubman’s own descendants.

On Tuesday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the University Downtown Center at 67 Washington Street will host Michele Galvin, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman. The event is free and open to the public, and yes, that means you.

READ MORE: Small Upstate New York Town Played a Huge Role in Women’s Rights

A Tubman Descendant Shares Her Story

Michele Galvin is the author of Beyond the Underground: Aunt Harriet, Moses of Her People. Her book takes you beyond the textbook version of Harriet Tubman and into the heart of her family’s story.

Instead of only focusing on Tubman as a historical figure, Galvin shares her legacy through the lens of family lineage. It is a deeply personal perspective on Tubman’s work before, during, and after the Civil War. You will hear about the woman behind the legend, the aunt remembered in family stories, not just the fearless conductor of the Underground Railroad.

There is something incredibly powerful about hearing history told by someone whose own roots are tied directly to it.

Harriet Tubman’s Life and Legacy

You probably know Harriet Tubman as the brave woman who escaped slavery and then returned again and again to lead others to freedom. Born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, Tubman endured brutal conditions and a traumatic head injury that affected her for the rest of her life.

After escaping in 1849, she could have stayed safely in the North. Instead, she risked everything. Historians estimate she made around 13 missions to rescue family members and others, guiding approximately 70 enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. She later served as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Tubamn's nickname, “Moses,” reflected the way she led people out of bondage and into freedom.

And here in Binghamton, her story is not just distant history. It is local. The Southern Tier played a role in the Underground Railroad, and Tubman’s presence and impact are woven into our region’s past.

Celebrating Tubman’s Legacy in Binghamton

This year’s Harriet Tubman Day celebration also marks the one-year anniversary of a statue built in her honor.

Created by Zoe Dufour, the statue shows Tubman holding a lantern, symbolizing her as a beacon of hope and light in the darkness. It stands at Tubman’s marker along the Downtown Binghamton Freedom Trail, a public trail highlighting Underground Railroad stops and other anti slavery and civil rights sites.

Maybe you’ve walked past the statue and wondered about its story. If you have not seen it yet, this is a beautiful reason to stop and take it in. The lantern feels especially fitting. Tubman did not just light the way for a few. She helped change the course of American history.

What to Expect at the Event

The event will include light refreshments, and it is designed to be welcoming and accessible to the entire community.

Whether you are a history lover, a student, a parent wanting to share something meaningful with your kids, or someone who simply wants to feel more connected to Binghamton’s past, this is an opportunity to pause and reflect on courage, sacrifice, and legacy.

Harriet Tubman’s story is one of bravery. Michele Galvin’s visit is a reminder that history is not just something you read about. It lives on in families, communities, and right here in Downtown Binghamton.

If you would like more information, you can reach out to Anne Bailey, director of the Tubman Center, at abailey@binghamton.edu, or Sharon Bryant, associate director, at sbryant@binghamton.edu.

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Mark your calendar for Tuesday. March 10. This is more than an event. It is a chance to stand a little closer to history.