7. Learn About The Seneca Village Project in Central Park

Seneca Village ruins

Central Park was once home to a thriving village made up mostly of African-Americans. Named Seneca Village, it was a middle-class town with “three churches, wood houses on assigned lots, a natural spring, basement schools, and a population of over 260.” It was a place where black residents owned their own land. In 1853, the city authorized the take-over of the land, and paid the settlers off. By 1857, when Central Park was officially opened, the settlement was gone.

To learn more about Seneca Village, make sure to join us for our tour of the Secrets of Central Park, where we will learn more juicy secrets about New York City’s beloved green space.

Secrets of Central Park Walking Tour