Celebrating The National Parks at African Burial Ground

The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by Ken Burns

In celebration of the release of the 6-part Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” African Burial Ground National Monument is holding an array of special events and activities.

September 20-26

The ranger-led tour “A Broader View: Exploring the Early African Presence in New York” highlights the role of free and enslaved Africans in the development of New York City while walking through the streets of lower Manhattan. Social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of African and African American life are explored and discussed.
This program is geared toward teens and adults and will be offered from 2 to 3:30 p.m. each day with an additional evening tour on Sept. 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are required.

September 21 & 25

Join the National Park Service for “Uncovering the Story of the Burial Ground through Archeology” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Replica artifacts are used to demonstrate how archeologists and anthropologists reconstructed the rich
history of the African Burial Ground.

Reservations are required.

September 22-24

Young children explore the history of the African Burial Ground during a group reading of “Jalani and the Lock”
by Lorenzo Pace during Children’s Story Time from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The reading is followed by a discussion of the opposing concepts of freedom and enslavement and a ranger-led
walk through the African Burial Ground memorial. The program concludes with a ranger-led walk through the
Federal Monument on-site and to the neighboring Foley Square, where the sidewalk medallion and city memorial
to the African Burial Ground are located.

The city memorial, “Triumph of the Human Spirit,” was designed by Lorenzo Pace, also the author of “Jalani and
the Lock.”

Reservations are required.

September 24

Join several artists at 7 p.m. for “Honoring the Ancestors: Artists Reflections.” This program is a viewing and discussion of art and architecture created to commemorate the African Burial Ground.

Reservations are required

September 26

Enjoy a day filled with family-friendly activities when the African Burial Ground celebrates Family Day. Arts and crafts workshops, dance performances and ranger-led art tours will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The events will take place at the African Burial Ground National Monument, located in the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway. Upon entering the building, members of the public will have to go through airport-like security.

For more information, call 212-637-2019 or visit http://www.nps.gov/afbg