Thompson AME Zion Church
Also known as: Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church
Why it's listed
Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church is a small two-story frame building on Parker Street in Auburn, New York, completed in 1891 with funds raised through subscription and donations. Its street-facing gable carries a small steeple, and the exterior is shingled, with fishscale patterns and bullseye details in the trim. Inside are a double-aisled sanctuary, a balcony and beaded wainscoting. The church was named for Bishop Joseph P. Thompson, who spoke at the laying of the cornerstone. It was the first building the congregation owned outright and built for its own use. It was the regular place of worship of Harriet Tubman, who lived in Auburn. Her funeral was held there on March 13, 1913, and hundreds filed past her flag-draped casket. The congregation used the church until 1993. The building is largely intact, and it recalls the role of the A.M.E. Zion Church in Auburn's African American community and in Tubman's spiritual and social life.
Significance in brief: The church was the regular place of worship of Harriet Tubman and the site of her funeral in 1913. It was also home to Auburn's A.M.E. Zion congregation from 1891 to 1993, a central institution of the city's African American community. Criterion A was added at listing for its religious significance to that community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000349, listed April 2, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33 Parker St., Auburn |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | April 2, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000349 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891 - 1913 |
| Architect / builder | Charles H. Sweeting (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/ Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The congregation used the church until 1993, when it moved to a larger facility. The building is largely intact, with few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.92329, -76.57586 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000349.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q99839411
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.