Planning Your Visit
Things To Do
The Visitor Center is open and provides educational programs and interpretation of the commemorative art commissioned for the Burial Ground.
Off-site presentations and a 90-minute walking tour about the African presence in early New York can be scheduled by calling 212-637-2019.
* The African Burial Ground National Monument is available for special events. Interested parties will have to obtain and submit a permit . For information about permits and/or the Upcoming Events contact the Visitor Center by dialing 212-637-2019.
Things To Know Before You Come
Because the Visitor Center is in a Federal office building, visitors must go through airport-style screening before entering.
Groups should arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the tour or presentation.
Dining facilities are not available at the African Burial Ground National Monument. Photography and videography are allowed; however, visitors must be escorted by a ranger while using cameras and camcorders in the lobby of the Ted Weiss Federal Building. The African Burial Ground National Monument participates in the Passport program and a Cancellation Station is available at the Visitor Center.
Plan Your Visit
Outdoor Activities
Walking tours are given Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Reservations are required!
The Visitor Center is open and provides educational programs and interpretation of the commemorative art commissioned for the Burial Ground.
Off-site presentations and a 90-minute walking tour about the African presence in early New York can be scheduled by calling 212-637-2019.
Operating Hours & Seasons
The Visitor Center is open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.
Starting October 2007, the memorial will be open Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Fees & Reservations
Admission to the African Burial Ground National Monument Visitor Center is free.
Please be aware: to reach the Visitor Center, which is located in a Federal Building, all visitors must pass through airport-style security.
Groups are urged to make reservations for tours, to ensure adequate preparation and staff availability.
Directions
The African Burial Ground National Monument is located in Lower Manhattan, close to Foley Square and just north of City Hall.
The African Burial Ground National Monument is easily accessible by public transportation. Driving and parking in New York City is significantly more difficult.
Manhattan is served by major airports - John F Kennedy (JFK), Liberty/Newark (EWR), La Guardia (LGA), Teterboro (TEB), Macarthur/Islip (ISP) and Westchester (HPN).
Ground transportation includes bus routes servicing the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street, PATH Trains servicing the World Trade Center Station and additional stations in Manhattan, Metro North servicing Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street, and New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains servicing Pennsylvania Station at 34th Street.
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
The African Burial Ground is easily accessible by public transportation.
The 4, 5, 6,R, W, trains (Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall) are one block away, the J, M and Z trains are one block away (Chambers Street), the A train is three blocks away (Chambers Street) and the 1 trains is 4 blocks away (Chambers Street) and the 2 and 3 trains are 2 blocks away (Park Place). The A, C and E are 3 blocks away (Chambers/World Trade Center). View the Lower Manhattan subway map [this is a pdf file].
The M15, M22 and B51 City Hall bus routes all terminate within walking distance, and the M1 and M6 South Ferry route passes nearby. Ask the driver for the stop closest to Broadway and Duane Street. View the Lower Manhattan bus map [this is a pdf file].
Carpooling / Vanpooling
Carpooling / Vanpooling
Public transportation to the African Burial Ground National Monument is strongly recommended. Driving and parking in Lower Manhattan can be difficult. Generally, on-street parking is not available. Any available parking spaces are metered. Parking regulations are vigorously enforced. Violators are ticketed and towed. Pay parking is available at garages in the area, but is costly.
If you must drive,
1. On the east side of Manhattan - leave Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Drive at the City Hall exit. Proceed west on surface streets to Broadway. The African Burial Ground is located just north of City Hall at 290 Broadway.
2. On the west side of Manhattan - leave the West Side Highway/West Street at Chambers Street. Drive east on surface streets until you reach Broadway. The African Burial Ground is located just north of City Hall at 290 Broadway.
African Burial Ground In Depth
News from the Parks
Colorado Section of Vast Bike Network is 1,000 Miles
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
Ranchers Oppose Yellowstone Bison Relocation
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
A Trip to Yosemite National Park via YARTS is a Must for Valley Residents
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
Nene Killed on the Road in Haleakala National Park
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
Life's a Beach: U.S. Virgin Islands are Calling You
January 5, 2009 - 12:19pm
Don't just sit there. Pick a destination and plan a vacation, maybe to someplace a little exotic, where national parks come with tropical beaches, and boats rather than big RVs are a common mode of transportation. You can enjoy all that without fretting over currency exchange rates or making sure that your passport is up to date if you head to a little paradise called the U.S. Virgin Islands.
January 5, 2009 - 12:19pm
Don't just sit there. Pick a destination and plan a vacation, maybe to someplace a little exotic, where national parks come with tropical beaches, and boats rather than big RVs are a common mode of transportation. You can enjoy all that without fretting over currency exchange rates or making sure that your passport is up to date if you head to a little paradise called the U.S. Virgin Islands.
