Exhibits
When you step onto the upper floor of the 1820 former Presbyterian church in Peterboro, New York—the historic site where the New York State Anti-Slavery Society held its inaugural meeting in 1835—you are immersed in the history of 19th-century American activism. Your visit begins with an orientation video highlighting the events that unfolded on October 22, 1835.
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The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) features a mix of visual art, deep historical biography, and interactive multimedia designed to honor the legacy of those who fought to end slavery and inspire modern efforts to dismantle racism. Your learning experience doesn’t stop when you leave the museum, be sure to check out the online resources tied to the museum's secondary mission: "Ongoing Abolition," which connects historical anti-slavery efforts to modern anti-racism education. |
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Featured Exhibits:
The Hall of Fame Banners
The definitive backbone of the museum’s upper floor is its collection of Hall of Fame Banners. Through this exhibit, NAHOF highlights trailblazing figures of the 19th-century antislavery movement. Towering beneath the building's vaulting roofline, these large, detailed banners profile each inductee; dedicated to icons like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Gerrit Smith, Lucretia Mott, John Brown, and William Lloyd Garrison, alongside lesser-known but equally critical foot soldiers of the movement. Each banner serves as a mini-biography, detailing the individual’s specific contributions, writings, risks taken, and philosophical stance on human rights.
“Come Join the Abolitionists” Painting
A focal point of the museum’s artistic collection is the large 40”x80” acrylic-on-gessoboard painting titled “Come Join the Abolitionists” by local artist, retired judge, and NAHOF founding member Hugh C. Humphreys. The artwork is an imaginative, cross-time gathering of legendary historical figures convening right there on the Peterboro village green. It brings together a powerful collective including Gerrit Smith, Frederick Douglass, John Brown, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln. The central theme revolves around John West (known as Peterboro's "Dominie"), a local Black Adventist minister. Because physical limitations prevented West from traveling to preach, he operated locally from a store on Peterboro's main street. The painting vividly captures West and other figures urgently beckoning the crowd, and by extension, the museum's modern visitors to "come join the abolitionists."
The Women’s Abolition Network Exhibits
Traditional history often filters the antislavery movement through a lens focused entirely on male politicians and public lecturers. NAHOF directly counters this narrative through this exhibit which highlights the Women's Abolition Network. These interpretive displays explore how women were not merely auxiliary helpers, but rather the central architects of abolitionist strategy. The exhibit outlines how women built massive grassroots networks across households, non-sectarian churches, and print media. They were the engine behind monumental anti-slavery
Traditional history often filters the antislavery movement through a lens focused entirely on male politicians and public lecturers. NAHOF directly counters this narrative through this exhibit which highlights the Women's Abolition Network. These interpretive displays explore how women were not merely auxiliary helpers, but rather the central architects of abolitionist strategy. The exhibit outlines how women built massive grassroots networks across households, non-sectarian churches, and print media. They were the engine behind monumental anti-slavery
