The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge is preparing for a major grand reopening on June 13th, after a water pipe break in 2025 damaged exhibits and forced the museum to close. Rather than simply restoring the space, museum leaders used the opportunity to create a more immersive and technology-driven experience for visitors.
The redesigned museum features large-scale murals that depict key moments in Harriet Tubman’s life, with plans for integrated audio, lighting, music, and video elements throughout the galleries. A life-sized hologram of Tubman is also expected to greet visitors near the entrance, helping bring her story to life for younger audiences and first-time visitors.
According to the museum, an anonymous donor helped fund the transformation after learning about the damage, allowing the institution to move beyond repairs and toward a complete reimagining of the visitor experience.
The museum’s exhibits emphasize Tubman’s remarkable achievements: her escape from slavery, her repeated return trips to rescue others through the Underground Railroad, her service as a Union scout and spy during the Civil War, and her later work advocating for women’s rights. Museum leaders say the goal is to tell these stories honestly while connecting them to the broader history of slavery and freedom in Maryland.