African Burial Ground National Monument Park

Address: 290 Broadway (near Duane St), New York, NY 10007, USA

Website: https://www.nps.gov/afbg/

Admission: Free

The African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan commemorates an 18th-century burial ground used by free and enslaved Africans in New York City. It recognises the lives and contributions of African-descended people during the colonial period.

The site includes an outdoor memorial and an interpretive centre that present archaeological findings, archival documentation, and stories of the buried individuals. Exhibits address the social history of slavery and African-American life in early New York.

The burial ground was rediscovered during construction in 1991, leading to archaeological investigation and a long preservation and commemoration process. The site has since been managed to support public education and remembrance.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the memorial sits within the Civic Center/Financial District area and is accessible from nearby subway lines and pedestrian routes.

• Excavation: Archaeological excavations in the early 1990s uncovered remains and grave goods that led to the site’s preservation and public memorialisation.
• Memorial and visitor centre: Includes a memorial and interpretive centre that explain the history of Africans in colonial New York and the significance of the burial site.

The African Burial Ground National Monument is in Lower Manhattan at Foley Square, a short walk from several subway stations serving the Civic Center area. Arrive by subway to stations around Chambers/City Hall/Fulton Street and walk a few minutes to the visitor center on Broadway (Foley Square area). Many downtown bus routes also serve the nearby streets; from major Manhattan transit hubs the site is typically a 5-15 minute walk.

• Visit in the morning or early weekday hours to experience the memorial and visitor center with fewer crowds and to spend time with the interpretive exhibits that detail the site's archaeology and history.
• Combine a stop here with nearby Lower Manhattan sites (Foley Square, City Hall area) so you can see the outdoor memorial and the indoor exhibitions in a single walkable itinerary.