Feb 12, 2012
Also Visit NY State Arts
African Burial Ground National Monument
During excavation for construction of a new office building at 290 Broadway in the early 1990s, workers made an amazing discovery. Digging 16 to 28 feet below street level, they unearthed an 18th-century cemetery for people of African ancestry, forgotten for two centuries. A unique window into the life of the Colonial African population was opened. Known as the African Burial Ground in contemporary records, the site covers more than five city blocks and contains the remains of about 427 people. Among the graves were myriad artifacts such as buttons, copper alloy rings, coins, glass beads and shroud pins, all of which evoke the lives of these individuals and their community. Because the graves contained Colonial artifacts far deeper below the surface than experts had anticipated, the discovery also forever changed the way urban archaeology would be conducted. The federal government is currently funding an analysis of the remains.
- Directions: Subway: 4, 5, 6, J, Z to Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall
- ADA Compliant Restrooms
- Disability Access: Fully accessible
- Disability Assistance: The visitor center's assistive listening devices are hearing aid compatible.
- On-Site Parking: Parking in area is difficult, with few metered spots available. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.
See more at NYC-Arts
African Burial Ground National Monument Listings
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African Burial Ground Memorial
Ongoing The memorial honors the estimated 15,000 enslaved and free Africans who were interred here during the 17th and 18th centuries. Visitors to the monument learn about the harsh living conditions under which African-Americans toiled, the customs they added to our culture and the many contributions they made to colonial America.
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African Burial Ground Visitor Center
Ongoing The visitor center contains four exhibit areas with replica artifacts, a 25-minute documentary film about the history of the burial ground and a bookstore. Park rangers present educational programs and tours that provide interpretation of the commemorative art commissioned for the monument.
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Walking Tour: A Broader View: The African Presence in Early New York
Ongoing This free, 90-minute walking tour highlights how free and enslaved Africans played an important role in the development of New York City. Social, political, cultural and economic aspects of African and African-American life are explored and discussed.