Access
Immerse yourself in the destinations and attractions you explore through exclusive access and hands-on experiences based on National Geographic’s existing relationships around the globe.
Nat Geo Day Tour: The Untold Story of Central Park
+ 5
+ 3
Central Park is one of NYC's best loved places to visit. A huge swathe of green covering more than 340 hectares, it's known as the lungs of New York. But before the construction of Central Park in 1858, a seven-block section along the western fringe of the park was home to Seneca Village, an African American enclave which provided its residents an escape from unhealthy conditions and pervasive racism experienced in Lower Manhattan, as well as an opportunity to become property owners and build a new community.
Newspaper reports that favored the creation of the park referred to Seneca Village as a place of shanties and shacks, but archaeological evidence and documentation from the time shows it was an educated, middle-class community. While the majority of the residents were African American, the village also had a substantial population of Irish and German immigrants. This mix of residents made it a unique example of an integrated community, especially for its time, and the Village boasted churches and a school.
When the City acquired the land for Central Park through the process of ‘eminent domain,’ the residents of Seneca Village were displaced and forgotten. In the 1990s, historians rediscovered the Village, leading to an ongoing project to uncover the history of this extraordinary place.
Visit the former site of Seneca Village with your National Geographic-trained guide who will share the stories of the people who once created a community here and see the site of the archaeological digs in Central Park, uncovering this little-known history.
Main features
Free cancellation
Place: New York
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Language: English
Mobile voucher accepted
Additional features
Instant confirmation
Official reseller
Guided tour
Subject expert guide
Wheelchair accessible
Immersive, enriching & sustainable guided day tours
Whether you prefer history, culture, gastronomy, conservation, nature, adventure, or photography these tours are designed to satisfy your curiosity.
Knowledge
Discover the world through the lens of National Geographic as National Geographic-trained guides and local experts share their knowledge and passion of the places and locations you visit.
Give back
Experience meaningful explorations with a commitment to sustainable tourism, with all tours meeting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria and a portion of proceeds dedicated to fund research.
Local immersion
Become inspired to care about the planet and its people by gaining a deeper understanding of the communities and inhabitants of the places you visit through interaction and insights into their daily lives.
Storytelling
Be a part of the story of each destination you visit through the unparalleled content and research from National Geographic you’ll be exposed to, making you reflect on different current realities.
© 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS and the Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.
Do this because
- Discover the history of Central Park with a National Geographic-trained guide specializing in African American history, on a walking tour focusing on the Seneca Village area
- Learn about the people that lived within one of New York's biggest communities of African Americans
- Examine the creation of Central Park from the concept and design to the implementation
- See the site of the archaeological digs in Central Park, uncovering this little-known history
Important to know
Know in advance:
- terrain type is flat
- suitable for wheelchair users and people who struggle to walk distances
- walking distance is approx. 3km
- the tour will be walking the whole time with limited time to sit or rest
- activity level is light
- this tour can host a min. of 6 and a max. of 25 people
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 48 hours before the experience begins.
What’s included
- Guided tour
What’s not included
- All meals
This experience meets the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. By choosing this experience you can protect the places you love, care for the environment and support local communities.
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Location
Provider
Musement
You might also like
Excursions à la journée
Nat Geo Day Tour : Saveurs et histoires de la Little Caribbean de Brooklyn
Découvrez la Little Caribbean de Brooklyn, un centre dynamique de la culture antillaise au cœur de New York. Avec dégustations, rencontre de la communauté et découverte d'un trésor méconnu de New York.
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Excursions à la journée
Nat Geo Day Tour : L'histoire méconnue de Central Park
Explorez Seneca Village, une communauté afro-américaine antérieure à Central Park, déplacée pour la construction du parc. Redécouvert dans les années 90, vous apprendrez tout sur son histoire avec votre guide.
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Attractions et visites guidées
Réservez votre New York C3® CityPASS® et économisez jusqu'à 37 % sur les entrées combinées des 3 principales attractions new-yorkaises de votre choix.
free cancellation
Confirmation Instantanée
Attractions et visites guidées
New York CityPASS® : cinq attractions populaires
Découvrez les meilleures attractions de New York en faisant des économies avec des billets électroniques pratiques envoyés instantanément.
free cancellation
Confirmation Instantanée
Activités
Visite en bus des sites de Gossip Girl
Réservez dès aujourd'hui votre visite en bus de Gossip Girl et visitez les lieux de tournage emblématiques de la série télévisée dramatique.
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Activités
Visite en bus des lieux incontournables de Sex and the City
Réservez dès aujourd'hui votre visite des lieux incontournables de Sex and the City et suivez les traces de Carrie Bradshaw et de sa compagnie partout à Manhattan.
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Activités
Visite en bus de la télévision et du cinéma à New York
Réservez dès aujourd'hui votre visite en bus de la télévision et du cinéma à New York et visitez des sites célèbres du grand et du petit écran !
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Activités
Le meilleur de New York en croisière
Réservez cette croisière sur le meilleur de New York et profitez des plus belles vues sur la ville dans le confort d'un bateau dernier cri !
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Activités
Croisière sous les lumières du port
Réservez votre croisière sous les lumières du port et naviguez sur l'Hudson tout en admirant les lumières de la ville qui ne dort jamais !
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Activités
Croisière de la Liberté à New York
Réservez votre croisière Liberty à New York le long de l'Hudson et admirez l'emblématique Statue de la Liberté de plus près !
free cancellation
Available in:
en
Company 
We recommend
Help & support
