• Battery Bikeway - Begin the tour in lower Manhattan, the oldest area of New York City. The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle here in 1624, arriving on the ship Nieuw Nederlandt (New Netherland).

The tour will also include a visit to the historic settlement of New Amsterdam.

• The Battery - Located at Battery Place State 3 and Battery Place, this introduction to lower Manhattan highlights its status as the oldest part of New York City. The Dutch first settled here in 1624 with the arrival of the ship Nieuw Nederlandt (New Netherland). Duration: 15 minutes.
• Fraunces Tavern Museum - Situated in City, NY 10004-4300, near Phillipse Well (on the left side of Pearl Street, outside the Goldman Sachs Building).

In 1664, the British seized control of the New Netherland colony, ending the long-standing conflict between the two nations over the territory’s ownership.

• Wall Street - Federal Hall (26 Wall Street)

This building, constructed in 1842, served as the United States Custom House. The original Federal Hall, built in 1700 as New York’s second city hall, no longer exists. The U.S. government was established here, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States in 1789.

“Even as antislavery gained support among whites, grassroots activism and critiques of white racism defined black abolitionism in New York. The threat of kidnapping weighed heavily on black New Yorkers as Southern slave catchers flooded the city. David Ruggles

• Foley Square - The new racial hierarchy that emerged to justify American slavery quickly became ingrained in society. This racial ideology’s influence on American perceptions is evident in the four statues outside the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House and the National Museum of the American Indian.
• African Burial Ground National Monument - Discussion will focus on the enslaved individuals buried at this site.
• National Museum of the American Indian - Located at NY 10004-1415, this introduction covers the Lenape people and the concept of race. Race is a social construct with no genetic basis, created to legitimize American slavery. Despite this, the belief in human races, along with the prejudice and racism it entails, remains deeply embedded in our culture and worldview.
• Battery Park City - Construction of Fort Amsterdam began in 1625 at Manhattan Island’s southern tip, where the East and Hudson Rivers converge. The fort was designed to protect New Netherland from attacks and served as a trading hub.

• Guides equipped with microphones and speakers

Explore the hidden and well-known networks of private homes, religious sites, meeting places, and safe havens used by those escaping slavery as they journeyed northward. Contrary to popular belief, New York was supportive of slavery during the antebellum era. Abolitionists, free African Americans, and escapees faced a challenging environment. Slave catchers roamed New York’s streets, searching for runaways and often abducting free African American men, women, and children, sending them south into servitude. Discover the numerous locations in Manhattan and the individuals who were integral to the Underground Railroad. Their altruistic actions enabled countless enslaved Africans to gain freedom from slavery.

Stroll from Fort Amsterdam, through Tribeca, to the African Burial Ground Memorial. We will explore… significant landmarks.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.