Harriet Tubman National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in New York. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Harriet Tubman the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:35 AM | 8:19 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:57 PM | 242° | 9h 22m |
| February | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:38 PM | 254° | 10h 33m |
| March | 7:19 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:13 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:25 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:48 PM | 284° | 13h 23m |
| May | 5:44 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:23 PM | 297° | 14h 38m |
| June | 5:28 AM | 6:11 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:47 PM | 304° | 15h 20m |
| July | 5:42 AM | 6:24 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:44 PM | 301° | 15h 03m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:10 PM | 290° | 13h 57m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:18 PM | 275° | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:20 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:25 PM | 259° | 11h 05m |
| November | 6:59 AM | 7:42 AM | 4:02 PM | 4:44 PM | 245° | 9h 45m |
| December | 7:31 AM | 8:17 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:33 PM | 238° | 9h 02m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.9129, -76.5647); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Harriet Tubman, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:47 AM – 5:37 AM | 0.8 | 14° |
| April | 2:51 AM – 4:31 AM | 1.7 | 17° |
| May | 12:53 AM – 3:33 AM | 2.7 | 18° |
| June | 11:05 PM – 3:05 AM | 4.0 | 18° |
| July | 10:54 PM – 1:44 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| August | 9:59 PM – 11:39 PM | 1.7 | 17° |
| September | 8:55 PM – 9:45 PM | 0.8 | 14° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Auburn, New York has four distinct seasons. Fall and spring are usually mild and summers tend to be sunny, warm, and humid. Winter weather is variable and conditions can change quickly. Snow in November is not uncommon. The heaviest snowfall tends to be in January with an average of 33”.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (82%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park includes the Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and parsonage. The legislative boundary of the park also includes properties at 180 South Street which are operated by the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. A related Tubman site separate from the National Historical Park is Fort Hill Cemetery, where Tubman is buried. View directions to these sites on our directions page.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Picnicking
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
NY
NY
PA
NY/PA
NY