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Travel back in time with these history walks and lectures. Learn about the city's epic past, and visit some of its less-known relics. Want to learn more? Visit our Parks History page.
History Events
Thursday, March 27, 2025
She-Merchants, Sachems, and Slaves: Women in Colonial New York
at Van Cortlandt House Museum (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
In this talk by historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson, you will learn about women’s rights (or lack thereof) in Munsee, Iroquois, African, Dutch, and English culture, and how enslaved women’s rights changed over time.
Event
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Marine Park Alliance Presents: Women's History Month: Who's Inspired You?
at Carmine Carro Community Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join us for our annual ceremony as we recognize women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership.
Free!
Event
Tea and Transit
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Stop on by for a special Women's History Month lecture on tea rooms and motorism.
Free!
Walking Tour: Reinventing the Bond Street Neighborhood, 1865-1900
at Merchant's House Museum, Manhattan
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join us for a captivating journey to discover the pivotal changes that shaped the “Bond Street area,” once a residential neighborhood for wealthy merchant families like the Tredwells. On this 90-minute tour, we’ll witness the dramatic changes that unfolded as commercial interests began to encroach, compelling these families to move uptown and triggering a metamorphosis of the entire neighborhood.
Event
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan 
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Saturday, April 5, 2025
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Volunteer Open House
at Wave Hill, Bronx
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join the Wave Hill family as a volunteer! Come explore the many ways you can contribute your time and talents to our engaging community at this special weekend Open House.
Free!
Volunteer Open House
at Wave Hill, Bronx
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join the Wave Hill family as a volunteer! Come explore the many ways you can contribute your time and talents to our engaging community at this special weekend Open House.
Free!
Celebrate and Learn: Eid al-Fitr
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join us as we make cards and bookmarks, try snacks, and learn more about Eid al-Fitr right here at King Manor Museum.
Free!
Event
Historic New York: The Little Red Lighthouse
at Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Rediscover the history of this unique landmark. Open access between 1:00pm and 2:45pm. Participants may need to queue for access due capacity limits inside of the structure.
Free!
Event
“Where Shadows Linger:” An Afternoon Ghost Tour
at Merchant's House Museum
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
On this afternoon tour, we’ll explore some of the spookiest true tales of ghostly sightings at the Merchant’s House, as well as highlights from our ongoing research into strange and supernatural occurrences at the house. We’ll also test out some newly-built handheld paranormal sensors, and discover why The New York Times calls us “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House.”
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Monuments of Prospect Park Tour
at Grand Army Plaza Arch (in Grand Army Plaza), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Come Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walking tour of Prospect Park’s monuments.
Free!
Marine Park Alliance Presents: Cherry Tree Heaven
at E. 36th St. & Ave. U (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
NYC's Director of Tree Planting leads an in-depth discussion of Marine Park's own grove of Yoshino cherry trees, initially planted in the 1980s
Free!
Kids
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Hart Island Tour (North Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday March 27
Free!
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Saturday, April 12, 2025
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Historic New York: Jackie Robinson's Brooklyn Legacy
at Lincoln Road Entrance (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier 76 years ago and became the first black man to play Major League Baseball. Learn more about Jackie Robinson and his legacy.
Free!
Historic New York: Environmental Impacts of the Civil War
at Fort Totten Park Visitors Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the often-overlooked environmental history of the Civil War. Discover how weather, disease, and the natural landscape shaped key battles
Free!
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Junior Arborist Day
at Visitor Center - Satterlee Street and Hylan Boulevard (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Learn about our Urban Forest and why we need trees and why they matter
Free!
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Junior Arborist Day at Tompkinsville Park
at Tompkinsville Park at Victory Boulevard (in Tompkinsville Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Celebrate Arbor Day Month! Learn about trees, identify trees and care for trees.
Free!
Event
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Historic New York: Gerritsen Creek
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Learn about the history of the Gerritsen Creek wetlands and a 17th century, tide-powered mill that no longer stands, but once existed in this region of Brooklyn.
Free!
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Hands-on History: Gardening Day!
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Can you dig it? Join us as we plant our first round of crops and flowers in King Manor’s raised bed gardens to welcome in the spring!
Free!
Historic New York: The Highbridge Water Tower
at West 174 Street and Amsterdam Avenue (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure.
Free!
Walking Tour: The Tredwells’ World of 19th Century Noho
at Merchant's House Museum, Manhattan
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
With the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal, the city’s economy boomed and wealthy merchant families escaped the increasing noise, congestion, and commercialization of the seaport area to move “uptown,” to what is now modern day NoHo, then an exclusive residential enclave. Join us as we explore the Tredwells’ elite neighborhood and discover what life was like for the wealthy merchant class in the mid-19th century.
Event
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Historic New York: Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Discover the history of this Brooklyn landmark that pays tribute to the 11,500 men, women, and children who died on British Prison Ships during the Revolutionary War.
Free!
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Hart Island Tour (South Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday April 9, 2025.
Free!
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Saturday, April 26, 2025
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Walking Tour: The Tredwells’ World of 19th Century Noho
at Merchant's House Museum
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
With the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal, the city’s economy boomed and wealthy merchant families escaped the increasing noise, congestion, and commercialization of the seaport area to move “uptown,” to what is now modern day NoHo, then an exclusive residential enclave. Join us as we explore the Tredwells’ elite neighborhood and discover what life was like for the wealthy merchant class in the mid-19th century.
Event
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
History Tour of The Battery
at SeaGlass Carousel (in The Battery), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join guides from The Battery Conservancy for an extended walking tour of the park, with a focus on the history of the area.
Free!
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Edwardian Mother's Day Tea
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
We welcome you to enjoy a spot of tea and light refreshments as well as the opportunity to learn some more about 20th Century teas and participate in some of the games enjoyed at tea.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Hart Island Tour (North Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday April 23
Free!
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Summer on the Hudson: Locomotive Open House
at Locomotive Lawn (in Riverside Park South), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Visit the renovated locomotive in Riverside Park South and learn about the rail yard history of Manhattan’s West Side.
Free!
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Hart Island Tour (South Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday May 7, 2025.
Free!
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Modern Marine Park
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
How was a garbage dump transformed into the Salt Marsh of Marine Park, Brooklyn?
Free!
Modern Marine Park
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
How was a garbage dump transformed into Marine Park’s Forever Wild Nature Preserve? Learn more as retired NYC Parks Chief Naturalist Mike Feller illuminates Marine Park's modern history.
Free!
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Colonial Culinary Series
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Experience History Through Taste: Colonial Culinary Classes!
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Summer on the Hudson: Locomotive Open House
at Locomotive Lawn (in Riverside Park South), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Visit the renovated locomotive in Riverside Park South and learn about the rail yard history of Manhattan’s West Side.
Free!
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Colonial Culinary Series
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Experience History Through Taste: Colonial Culinary Classes!
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Colonial Culinary Series
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Experience History Through Taste: Colonial Culinary Classes!
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Colonial Culinary Series
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Experience History Through Taste: Colonial Culinary Classes!
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