Information
Landmark: African Burial Ground National MonumentCity: New York
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
African Burial Ground National Monument, New York, USA New York, North America
Overview
In Lower Manhattan, at 290 Broadway near the Civic Center and Foley Square, the African Burial Ground National Monument stands as one of the city’s most significant historic sites.It honors and remembers the lives of both free and enslaved Africans laid to rest there in the 1600s and 1700s, making it one of the oldest and largest African burial grounds in the country, where weathered earth still marks the passage of centuries.From the late 1600s to the late 1700s, the land that would become the African Burial Ground held the graves of New York’s African community, where simple wooden markers once weathered in the wind.At the time, slavery wove itself deep into New York’s economy and daily life, from the docks to the busy markets.Rediscovery: For centuries, the burial ground lay hidden beneath layers of brick and asphalt, swallowed by the city’s growth.In 1991, workers digging the foundation for a federal office building uncovered hundreds of skeletal remains, bringing the site back into the public eye.This discovery revealed how deeply African Americans shaped the city’s history and economy, bringing into focus the long-ignored labor, skill, and hardship of both enslaved and free Africans-like the hands that built its docks and markets.In 2006, the U. S. government officially named the site the African Burial Ground National Monument, honoring its deep historical and cultural significance-where the quiet earth holds stories centuries old.The monument showcases a striking memorial sculpture of black granite and gleaming glass, crafted by artist Ed Hamilton.It features a bold abstract design that captures the African spirit, tracing the path from chains to open sky.The monument’s visitor center offers exhibits that bring to life the burial ground’s history, the rhythms of African life in early New York, and the enduring story of African Americans in the city.The exhibits showcase artifacts pulled from the site, faded historical papers, and vivid multimedia presentations that bring to life the African community’s stories, culture, and lasting contributions in colonial New York.The monument hosts guided tours, hands‑on lessons, and moving commemorations, all designed to shine a light on African American history and heritage-like walking past weathered bronze plaques that tell stories etched deep in time.It’s a place where you pause in quiet reflection, paying tribute to those laid to rest, while learning about slavery’s harsh truths, the strength that endured, and the deep, vibrant history of African Americans.You’ll find it at 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, just steps from the corner of Duane and Elk Streets in Lower Manhattan.The site’s usually open during the day, though exact times can change with the season or special events-summer evenings, for instance, might stretch a little later.Admission’s free-just walk in and take a look.Accessibility: Visitors with disabilities can get around easily, from smooth ramps to wide doorways.City Hall sits just a short walk away, its stone steps leading into the heart of New York’s government.The 9/11 Memorial and Museum sit just a short walk from the World Trade Center, close enough to hear the city’s hum as you approach.Federal Hall sits just a short walk from Trinity Church, and together they anchor a neighborhood steeped in history and culture, where the sound of church bells drifts over cobblestone streets.The African Burial Ground National Monument stands as a sacred place, keeping alive the stories of African Americans who built New York’s early history through extraordinary hardship, their voices echoing through the quiet of its stone paths.It sheds light on the city’s past, remembers those long lost to time, and rises as a proud, unshaken symbol of its culture.It’s a must-see if you want to grasp the whole sweep of America’s story, from dusty pioneer trails to crowded city streets.
