Syracuse and Upstate New York house a rich history of monumental movements & accomplishments that have shaped not only our country's culture but our constitutional rights. Celebrate the courage & determination of brave women throughout history & discover the lives of those who have called Syracuse home.
Matilda Joslyn Gage House & Museum
A revolutionary for her time, Matilda Gage not only led the National Woman Suffrage Association alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony, she also was an impressive advocate for human rights and was given an honorary adoption into the Wolf Clan of the Mohawk Nation. In the early 2000s, the Gage Foundation converted her suburban home into a museum where visitors can explore her personal memoirs depicting the horrors of sex trafficking in the U.S. circa 1893, and check out the hiding space where Underground Railroad freedom seekers took sanctuary in her home over 150 years ago.
Fayetteville Cemetery
Near to the home and museum, Matilda Joslyn Gage was laid to rest in the Fayetteville Cemetery. Here visitors can pay their respects to the important human rights activist, abolitionist and author. Proceed through the cemetery's main entrance, take the second left and pay homage by her large headstone located on the right side of the road.
Onondaga Historical Association
Preserving incredible historical artifacts related to Syracuse history, OHA also highlights the impassioned women from Syracuse through their Women's Suffrage Exhibit Tour "Seen and Heard." Visitors can also explore the museum in Downtown Syracuse where fascinating relics cover the museum halls and highlight Central New York women and their prodigious contributions not only within our community but across the country.
Nearby Not-To-Miss Historic Women's History Sites
Harriet Tubman Home & Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
Known as the "Moses" of her people, Harriet Tubman fled her life of slavery in Maryland and led approximately 70 enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Tubman later made her home in nearby Auburn, NY, where visitors can explore her residence and the rich history surrounding her extraordinary life. Also in Auburn is the site of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with which Tubman was heavily involved, the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, and her burial site at Fort Hill Cemetery.
William H. Seward House
William Seward was a fierce abolitionist, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State and governor of New York State. Seward’s wife, Frances was also very active in the Underground Railroad and had close relationships with fellow suffragists, contributing to the fight for women's property rights. Visiting this national historic landmark, you'll discover the hidden spaces where freedom seekers took refuge within the home.
