Gerrit Smith Estate

08/19/2026

In less than a week, we will welcome Jeffrey M. Davis, a descendant of Rev. Samuel Joseph May, to Peterboro for "Fugitives, Friends, and the Fight for Freedom" on Sunday, August 23rd at 2:00 pm!
This free immersive multimedia presentation will bring the abolitionists of the 1850s to life, highlighting their efforts to aid freedom seekers. From escapes on the Erie Canal to the "Jerry Rescue" in Syracuse, you'll experience the sights and sounds of abolition in our backyard.
This special event wraps up our summer programming, but stay tuned for our upcoming October events! 😉

08/19/2026

08/12/2026

The Peterboro Mercantile for the Gerrit Smith Estate NHL will be open in its temporary site, 4561 Peterboro Road, Peterboro NY 13134, on Friday 8/14/26 and on Saturday 8/15/2026, from 8 am to 4 pm. The Mercantile offers books by local authors Norman Dann and Milton Sernett, as well as many other authors. They also offer other items such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, etc. The entire catalog can be accessed online at

Peterboro Mercantile is the gift shop of Gerrit Smith National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum.

07/30/2026

Emancipation Day is tradition in Peterboro, celebrated since the 1920s by the descendants of slaves and abolitionists. The event concludes with a group photograph at the Smithfield Community Center and a wreath-laying ceremony to honor those who risked their lives for freedom.

We at NAHOF would be honored if you could join us to commemorate those who paved the way to liberty through Peterboro. We hope to see you at Saturday's Emancipation Day celebration.

07/17/2026

We are excited to welcome Dr. Norm Dann for a presentation titled "Brothers in Spirit: The Mutual Influence Between Frederick Douglass and Gerrit Smith," based on Dr. Dann's latest book.

This event is free and will be held at the Smithfield Community Center on Sunday, July 19th, at 2:00 PM. The talk is presented in collaboration with the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark. Books will be available for purchase, and donations to both organizations will be accepted.

06/04/2026

We are pleased to announce....
Manisha Sinha: A New History of Abolition and Emancipation
Join historian and author Manisha Sinha for an in-depth look at abolition and emancipation through new research, untold stories, and the voices of those who resisted slavery.

Manisha Sinha will present “A New History of Slavery and Emancipation" as a way to commemorate Juneteenth, Friday, June 19th, at 7pm at the Catherine Cummings Theater, 16 Lincklaen Street, Cazenovia, NY.
The talk is free and open to the public.
Sales of her books and a book signing will follow. ( Colgate Bookstore pop-up )

Due to this highly acclaimed speaker, pre-registration is suggested at:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/manisha-sinha-a-new-history-of-abolition-and-emancipation

This event is sponsored by the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Peterboro, NY, which honors American abolitionists and abolition history. The museum is open to the public weekends June through October. The NAHOF website lists an exciting range of programming for 2026 as well as resources focused on NAHOF’s mission which, Honors antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery, and the legacy of that struggle, and strives to complete the second and ongoing abolition - the moral conviction to end racism.

Catherine Cummings Theatre
Colleen Curley Prossner
National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum
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06/04/2026

Singing a Journey of Freedom: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Concert
7 PM, June 16th, Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 751 South St. Utica, NY.
This event is free, all are welcome!

Led by Dr. Kathy Bullock, the concert features the duo Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore, and the Jubalo Singers performing works drawn from the Songs of Slavery and Emancipation project—a book, CD, and film by Mat Callahan, about songs of resistance, hope, and freedom composed more than a century ago and arranged for modern audiences.

"These songs were buried for over a century, but they never lost their power.” Says Dr.Bullock, “Traveling the actual routes of the Underground Railroad—standing in the places where enslaved people sang, prayed, and fled toward freedom—transforms this music from history into lived experience. This tour is an invitation to hear those voices again, together."

Underground Railroad stops include Lexington, KY; Cleveland, OH; Niagara Falls, NY; Peterboro, NY; Lake Placid, NY; Greensboro, VT; Northampton, MA; Torrington, CT; and Harper’s Ferry, WV. At each site, concerts and workshops will celebrate the music’s historical context and its enduring call for justice. The tour coincides with America’s 250th anniversary, focusing the national story on the voices of those who sang for true liberty.

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Peterboro, NY is pleased to sponsor this event and equally pleased to collaborate with Reverend Baugh and Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church to bring this concert to the community. A reception will follow the concert.

Registration is suggested by visiting the National Abolition Hall of Fame website, www.nationalabolitionhalloffameandmuseum.org

Please consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food to support the Hope Chapel Food Program.

Founded in 2004, the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Peterboro, NY, which honors American abolitionists and abolition history. The museum is open to the public weekends 12 - 4PM June through October. The NAHOF website lists an exciting range of programming for 2026 as well as resources focused on NAHOF’s mission which, Honors antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery, and the legacy of that struggle, and strives to complete the second and ongoing abolition - the moral conviction to end racism.
For more information, please contact [email protected]

National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum
Berea College

03/02/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVhv_N0MnRg

Hello and welcome to our final Black History Matters 2026 video!As we close this season of Black History Matters, this video will take a moment to reflect on...

02/28/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE8kLfHoOiY&t=6s

Hello and welcome to today’s Black History Matters video! "Come to Peterboro: Lodestar for Freedom!"This presentation will highlight the important role of Pe...