March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and reflect on women’s significant achievements and contributions to history. On Friday, one woman and late resident of New York state was honored at Binghamton University with the unveiling of a statue called “Leading the Way to Freedom.”

It's a monument that honors the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman.

Tubman – abolitionist and social activist – is a Moses to her people, a conductor of the Underground Railroad who led slaves to freedom in America.

“Harriet Tubman is a timeless hero, and our hope is that all generations will draw real hope and inspiration from her courage, for her bravery,” Harriet Tubman Center Director Ann Bailey said.

It’s that courage and bravery that inspired sculptor Zoe DuFour, who spent three years creating the statue of Tubman.

“There is so much that she has done as a singular human, it’s hard to fathom at times,” DuFour said.

In addition to her infamous work with the Underground Railroad, Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed military raid, a spy for the Union and an advocate for civil and women’s rights.

Tubman believed in a better future for all, and she risked everything to make that future a reality.

“It’s easy to feel that we don’t have that much impact as a singular individual," DuFour said. "And Harriet Tubman is proof that a single individual can be deeply, deeply impactful for many, many lives.”

DuFour’s sculpture has found a permanent home at Binghamton University along the city’s Freedom Trail, which highlights Underground Railroad stops and other notable anti-slavery and civil rights sites.

The Tubman statue is the first stop along the trail. There are 13 other stops on the trail and other freedom trails to check out in New York state, all of which follow the Underground Railroad.

Elements of the statue represent the plight of slavery and Tubman’s fight for a brighter future.

“Harriet is holding that lantern, and it represents her vision of a free America, a freedom of liberty, of equality for all,” Bailey said.

The hope is that as people walk along the Freedom Trail and stand in front of the statue, they will see it as more than just a hunk of bronze. The statue holds years and years of history, and you can’t move forward without first knowing where you’ve been.

“There’s no going backwards, that’s where our future is," Bailey said. "And so we got to be promoting those values that she stood for now and always."