NYC Slavery History: Underground Railroad Tour

Uncover the hidden history of NYC’s enslaved people and their brave uprisings. Explore the Underground Railroad’s secret routes and hear stories of courage and triumph on this historical walking tour.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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.
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
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Explore the crucial role played by enslaved individuals in shaping NYC and their courageous resistance against subjugation. Delve into the intriguing history of the Underground Railroad, a secret system of pathways and sanctuaries used primarily by enslaved African Americans to flee to free states and Canada.
Tour an excavation site and monument honoring…

Location
1 Bowling Green
Bowling Green
In front of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(388 Ratings)
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Holly_b
Feb 9, 2025
Entertaining and interesting! - This was a very informative and fun tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining to talk to. He showed us many places that would otherwise have passed us by, and told us about the history.
Review provided by Viator
Debbieo230
Jan 20, 2025
Essential experience - My second time participating. The information learned is inspiring, jaw-dropping, essential. Recommend for everyone —at least once, if not twice! I’ll be bringing others to share this life-changing experience! Our tour guide,Maia, was amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Saraheo4322di
Jan 7, 2025
Incredibly informative, great tour guide - It was a very cold day in January in NYC and our tour guide Maia made it worth walking the windy streets for 2+ hours. She was incredibly knowledgeable, able to answer everyone's questions and is clearly very passionate about history. My 12 year old daughter and I loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trvazquez
Dec 25, 2024
Facts about NYC you may have never knew! - The walking tour was amazing. I learned so much that I never knew. Our guide, Sean was well informed and a great orator. Great job!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yazminruiz
Dec 8, 2024
Underground Railroad tour - Our tour guide was great , he was friendly and very informative, he took his time to explain and educate us on the horrors of American slavery. we will definitely recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marywr9598mw
Nov 28, 2024
The Civil War is not over; Your tour will explain why that is said! - If you want to better understand our current political situation today, take this tour. This is a very well-researched tour that connects the dots from the early 1600's to today. Don't miss it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Terry
Nov 10, 2024
Excellent Tour! - Sean did an outstanding job educating us on the history of slavery and the underground railroad in NYC. His depth of knowledge, as a historian, was impressive, as was his storytelling. I didn't realize how little I knew about slavery in this city and the history is quite extensive. This tour is a MUST if you are visiting NYC.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Labby2020
Nov 7, 2024
Very worthwhile tour - Maia gave us an outstanding tour. There were 9 people in the group and we could always hear easily and ask questions. Maia is super knowledgeable and shared so much history and context with the group. This is one of the best tours we've taken.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_m
Oct 27, 2024
Excellent tour of slavery story in NYC - The tour narrative was really good and finished at the African Burial Ground National Monument. Very Interesting, 2-1/2 hours well spent. Tour guide Ludy had a binder with photographs of historical figures and places, illustrating story of slavery in New York City- who knows all this?
Review provided by Viator
Joc
Dec 1, 2024
Interesting tour - Was a good tour, many interesting elements. Did not fully live up to the reviews I read. Would have liked more info about Underground Railroad route. Guide came with their material not prepared, spent a lot of time trying to find the right images… even showed us images of people who were not who they said they were and were corrected by the tour attendees. That said, the guide was personable and humorous… I think we may have caught them on a non-typical day. I found the ending to be inspiring.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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