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New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

Overview

Learn the contributions of enslaved people to NYC including the brave uprisings against oppression. Then discover the exciting history of the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada.

Visit an archeological site and memorial dedicated to the memory of enslaved Africans in colonial America. Visit the site of a former station on the Underground Railroad. Learn about the revolts, kidnappings and dramatic escapes that occurred during the era of American slavery. Listen to tales of courage and triumph and discover the stories of real New Yorkers who risked their lives and properties to help people escape slavery on this historical New York City walking tour.

City: New York City

Sun 22 Jun

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

Sun 22 Jun

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

History of the Underground Railroad

Slavery in Historical Context

The site of New York’s first slave market

Local guide

African Burial Ground

New York’s Role in Slavery

Fraunces Tavern

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

What To Expect

National Museum of the American Indian

(Exterior Visit) Built in 1907, Alexander Hamilton Custom House stands as a Beaux-Arts treasure commemorating the rise of trade and commerce in NYC with 3 floors of art and artifacts dedicated to Native Americans.

Battery Park

For more than 200 years, The Battery has been an invaluable part of New York City’s history. Decades before Ellis Island was built or the Statue of Liberty gazed down at incoming boats, millions of newcomers arrived at The Battery from Europe and elsewhere.

Fraunces Tavern Museum

(Exterior Visit) The location played a prominent role in history before, during, and after the American Revolution.

Wall Street

An actual wall existed on the street from 1685 to 1699. The heart of the financial system and the former location of the Wall was built by enslaved people.

Foley Square

Foley Square is the location of the “Triumph of the Human Spirit,” a sculpture honoring the presence of enslaved people in New York.

African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground and memorial is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in New York documenting the lives of enslaved people in New York.

Show 3 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (378)

Theresamoore99

Aug 2023

This was an amazing tour. I learned so much about slavery and its beginnings related to the North and NYC. I recommend our people of color take this tour. Our Tour Guide, Sean, was an excellent representative. Sean lead the tour through New York and shared specifics about events that took.place. He told us about things that were directly related and things that had a ripple effect.

Masharika M

Aug 2023

I’m so grateful that I learned of this tour and joined. My mind was blown by how educational and engaging this tour was. I took my 9 and 12 y/o along, and they were engrossed the entire time.

Eva R

Aug 2023

The guide on this tour, Shaun, has been one of the best I've ever had. It is common for the guides to dedicate themselves to telling one anecdote after another without helping to form an overview of why these things happened or what relevance they had. With Shaun, we fully understood how the slave system worked and how slaves could escape, while also learning about the origins of NYC and its wealth, along with anecdotes about specific people. A wonderful experience!