Saratoga Spa State Park unveils Solomon Northup statue

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Saratoga Spa State Park (SSSP) unveiled a statue during a ceremony on Thursday depicting Solomon Northup that will be on view at the park throughout the summer. Northup, the author of the memoir “Twelve Years A Slave”, which inspired the 2013 film of the same name, was a former resident of Saratoga Springs.

Born a free American in Minerva, New York in 1808, Northup, who lived in the Saratoga area with his family, was tricked into joining a fraudulent traveling circus, leading to him being kidnapped and sold into slavery in Washington, D.C. in 1841. After over a decade of enslavement in Louisiana, he was emancipated and reunited with his family in 1853 with assistance and actions from abolitionist Samuel Bass and New York Governor Washington Hunt, the tale of which was chronicled in Northup’s best-selling memoir.

The 13-foot-tall bronze sculpture, titled “Hope Out of Darkness,” will be displayed outside SSSP’s Lincoln Bathhouse until October 7. The statue originally premiered at the Whitney Plantation in New Orleans earlier this year.

“New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is honored to host a sculpture celebrating Solomon Northup and his incredible story,” said OPRHP Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. “Northup’s courage during his enslavement, his captivating written work and his fight to hold his enslavers accountable make him one of Saratoga Springs’ most treasured residents. It is therefore fitting to display a statue of Northup at Saratoga Spa State Park so current generations can better honor and understand his legacy.”

“We see Hope Out of Darkness as more than a sculpture – it’s a space for reflection, education, and dialogue. It invites the community of Saratoga Springs and beyond to engage with Solomon Northup’s story and the history it represents, while encouraging conversation about justice and freedom today,” stated Melissa Howell, a Northup descendant and Board Member of the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works. “Every inch of symbolism encased in the sculpture and plaza in Louisiana speaks to his struggle and long-sought triumphant rescue. It brings us closer to Solomon not only as a historical figure, but as a man of strength, dignity, and vision. This sculpture ensures his legacy is not only remembered, but felt – in bronze, in story, and in spirit – speaking across time to awaken empathy, inspire justice, and remind us of the enduring power of one man’s truth.”

“Hope Out of Darkness,” will be transported to various locations throughout the country to commemorate Northup’s legacy before its permanent installation in Marksville, Louisiana in 2026. The statue will reside outside the courthouse where Northup was emancipated.

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