Harriet Tubman Square, Newark

Harriet Tubman Square is a historic public space located on land that was once part of the Munsee-speaking Lunaape (Lenape) people's territory. The park's origins date back to 1667 when Puritan settlers designated the land as a commons for grazing sheep and marketing goods, initially referred to as "North Common" or "Upper Green." In 1795, the town voted unanimously to transform the commons into a park, naming it after George Washington.

Over the next two centuries, the park became surrounded by significant cultural and civic institutions, including The Newark Museum of Art, the Newark Public Library, the Ballantine Mansion, and Rutgers Business School. In 1978, the park and its surrounding neighborhood were designated the Historic James St. Commons and added to the National Register of Historical Places, making it the city's first historic district.

Throughout its history, Harriet Tubman Square has been the site of various public statues installed during different periods. In 1926, Newark’s Italian American community gifted a statue of Christopher Columbus to the city, which was installed in the park the following year. However, in June 2020, amid a reevaluation of historical figures and their legacies, the Columbus statue was removed and relocated to St. Lucy’s Church.

In 2022, to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday, also known as "Emancipation Day," the park was renamed Harriet Tubman Square. This renaming honors the under-recognized histories of African Americans and abolitionists who contributed to the quest for liberation and justice in the United States, acknowledging New Jersey's complex history as the last Northern state to legally abolish slavery in 1866.

Today Harriet Tubman Square continues to serve as a vital town gathering place, reflecting its historic role.