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
(390 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Valk67
Apr 26, 2025
Quality and very documented tour - Very interesting tour on a part of essential American history. The guide, historian, was perfect. Tour in English. Recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rossih123
Apr 24, 2025
Amazing Tour Guide! - Damani was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable and despite this being a heavy topic he kept everything light and interesting but still historically accurate. This was our favorite tour we went one while in New York and we would definitely recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jill_v
Apr 6, 2025
Maia was super... - Maia was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic, just a great communicator. Highly recommend this guide! Only problem was the frigid, rainy, windy weather, which made it impossible for me to finish the tour. If we had been able to keep walking the whole time rather than standing and listening, or had been able to move inside to a coffee shop or bar (one person's suggestion) I would have been able to hang in there.
Review provided by Viator
Mattmd247
Mar 22, 2025
Life changing - Excellent, learnt so much. It pains me that people are not taught more about the history of the US and the heartbreak and inhumanity of the transatlantic chattel slave trade and how its ramifications impact us ALL to this very day. Ludie our guide brought this history to life, through her knowledge and passion. A thoroughly engaging 2.5 hours and well worth the fee.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
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
From $49
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).