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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
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!
Event
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!
Friday, April 25, 2025
Event
4/25 Celebrate Our Historic Trees for Arbor Day!
at Oak Ridge (Forest Park Headquarters) (in Forest Park), Queens
4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Join us this Arbor Day as we celebrate our historic trees!
Free!
Event
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Event
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
Event
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
Native Americans: Pathways to the Past, Present and Future
at Northern Boulevard and 245th Street
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Take a short stroll with the Urban Park Rangers as we learn about Native American contributions to our modern-day society.
Free!
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.
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!
“Where Shadows Linger:” An Afternoon Ghost Tour
at Merchant's House Museum, Manhattan
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.
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!
Historic New York: Fort Totten
at Fort Totten Park Visitors Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Learn about the important role Fort Totten played in New York City’s defense history, from the Civil War to today.
Free!
Historic New York: Mount Morris Fire Watchtower
at Mount Morris Fire Watchtower (in Marcus Garvey Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure. Open access from 1pm to 2:45pm. Registration is not required.
Free!
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Historic New York: Sylvan Grove Cemetery History and Cleanup
at Victory Boulevard and Alberta Avenue (in Sylvan Grove Cemetery), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers and Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries Staten Island to preserve history by participating in a cleanup of this protected historical cemetery.
Free!
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Evergreen Cemetery
at Evergreen Cemetery Entrance (in Highland Park)
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Walk among the beautiful landscaped architecture and explore the connections between the cemetery and New York City's Asian-American population.
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, May 24, 2025
Historic New York: Ridgewood Reservoir
at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Join NYC's Urban Park Rangers and for a walk at the Ridgewood Reservoir highlighting the history, ecology and engineering of this cultural treasure.
Free!
Sunday, June 1, 2025
LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Historic Queens Pride
at Mauro Playground (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with NYC Parks. Walk through the Pat Dolan Trail along the bottom edge of Willow Lake to learn more about LGBTQ+ history/
Free!
Tuesday, June 3, 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 May 21
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!
Alt 1940s
at King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Vroom vroom! Hightail it to King Manor for a day of 40s pinup glamor at our 1940s CAR-nival!
Free!
Kids
Tuesday, June 17, 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 21, 2025.
Free!
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, August 23, 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 history of Manhattan’s West Side.
Free!
Event
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 4, 2025
Summer on the Hudson: Little Red Lighthouse Festival
at Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with the Urban Park Rangers!
Free!
Event
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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