The National Park Service released a long-awaited report Wednesday that recommends bringing federal staff to Auburn to help operate the Tubman Home and other sites connected to the famed Underground Railroad conductor.
The NPS draft study is the latest step in a process that started in 2000 when the U.S. Congress called for a study of how to preserve Tubman's legacy, both in the Auburn area and in the area of Maryland where she was born. The study is now subject to a 30-day public comment period, which will include a hearing at the Tubman Home next month.
Future steps would include the NPS sending a final report to the U.S. interior secretary, who would make a final recommendation to Congress. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, and U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, have already introduced companion bills in Congress.
Should everything fall into place, the move could leverage up to $7.5 million in federal funding for development of the Tubman sites in Auburn. It also would establish joint site management between the NPS and the AME Zion Church, which owns the Tubman Home property on South Street and the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church building on Parker Street.
NPS recommends bringing five to seven federal interpretive staffers to Auburn, with an annual budget of $500,000 to $650,000 for personnel and maintenance costs. The agency believes this approach could help dramatically boost attendance, which stands at about 10,000 people annually, by making the visitor experience more rewarding.
The historical park designation would apply to the Tubman Home site, which includes the Tubman Home for the Aged and the brick residence where Tubman herself lived, the Thompson AME Zion Church property and Tubman's grave site at the Fort Hill Cemetery, where she was buried in 1913.
Tubman Home site visitors now can tour the Home for the Aged and the site grounds, and they can view a film at the visitor center. The NPS said it could help improve the experience by helping to complete restorations to allow for tours of the Tubman residence itself and the church.
The historical park plan is one of three alternatives outlined by the NPS in the 180-page report. The other options are to take no action or to establish the Auburn sites as affiliated areas of the park system, which would still help leverage some funding but not bring NPS staff and daily management into the picture. The agency said the historical park proposal, which it calls Alternative C, is the most effective and efficient approach.
The NPS had indicated it was heading in this direction when it released a preliminary report and held a public meeting in Auburn earlier this year. Monday's announcement provided additional details about how the plan would work.
Schumer issued a press release expressing support for the study's findings.
“Today is a welcome affirmation that Auburn is an ideal location to preserve and memorialize the life of Harriet Tubman, whose courage and unwavering commitment to expanding the American ideals of equality and freedom have stood as beacons of hope and future progress,” he said in the release.
The NPS public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Tubman Home, with the following day serving as a snow date.
Future steps would include the NPS sending a final report to the U.S. interior secretary, who would make a final recommendation to Congress. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, and U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, have already introduced companion bills in Congress.
Should everything fall into place, the move could leverage up to $7.5 million in federal funding for development of the Tubman sites in Auburn. It also would establish joint site management between the NPS and the AME Zion Church, which owns the Tubman Home property on South Street and the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church building on Parker Street.
NPS recommends bringing five to seven federal interpretive staffers to Auburn, with an annual budget of $500,000 to $650,000 for personnel and maintenance costs. The agency believes this approach could help dramatically boost attendance, which stands at about 10,000 people annually, by making the visitor experience more rewarding.
The historical park designation would apply to the Tubman Home site, which includes the Tubman Home for the Aged and the brick residence where Tubman herself lived, the Thompson AME Zion Church property and Tubman's grave site at the Fort Hill Cemetery, where she was buried in 1913.
Tubman Home site visitors now can tour the Home for the Aged and the site grounds, and they can view a film at the visitor center. The NPS said it could help improve the experience by helping to complete restorations to allow for tours of the Tubman residence itself and the church.
The historical park plan is one of three alternatives outlined by the NPS in the 180-page report. The other options are to take no action or to establish the Auburn sites as affiliated areas of the park system, which would still help leverage some funding but not bring NPS staff and daily management into the picture. The agency said the historical park proposal, which it calls Alternative C, is the most effective and efficient approach.
The NPS had indicated it was heading in this direction when it released a preliminary report and held a public meeting in Auburn earlier this year. Monday's announcement provided additional details about how the plan would work.
Schumer issued a press release expressing support for the study's findings.
“Today is a welcome affirmation that Auburn is an ideal location to preserve and memorialize the life of Harriet Tubman, whose courage and unwavering commitment to expanding the American ideals of equality and freedom have stood as beacons of hope and future progress,” he said in the release.
The NPS public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Tubman Home, with the following day serving as a snow date.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 2 comment(s)
quest wrote on Nov 20, 2008 6:17 PM:
gman wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:56 PM: