Seneca Village Landscape

Visit destinations that highlight famous figures, beautiful backdrops, and black history in New York City.

Head to Seneca Village this Juneteenth for a family-friendly celebration of Black wellness through dance, music, art-making, comedy, self-care, and more!

Explore the history of this area like never before with Discover Seneca Village, an outdoor exhibit of interpretive signage that gives visitors a glimpse into this fascinating community.

Whether you’re just stopping by for a visit, heading to a concert, or consider Central Park your backyard, we have you covered for your perfect weekend in the Park.

Juneteenth is a day that marks the end of slavery, celebrates Black culture and accomplishments, and acknowledges the systemic injustices people of color continue to face. It is also a time to reflect on Seneca Village, its residents, and its legacy.

Learn about the historical research of this community of predominantly African-Americans, many of whom owned property.

The site of Seneca Village in Central Park resembles many other Park landscapes, with rolling hills, winding paths, trees, playgrounds, and rock outcrops.

Celedonia (Cal) Jones, born and raised in central Harlem, talks about his childhood in NYC and how he became involved in telling Seneca Village’s many stories.

An introduction to Seneca Village, the largest community of free African-American property owners in pre-Civil War New York.

Andrea Buteau of the Central Park Conservancy and composer/curator Andromeda Turre discuss creating a Juneteenth commemoration that is both a powerful act of somber remembrance and celebratory joy.

Central Park has a storied history as a concert venue, welcoming musicians of all genres to its iconic lawns. Large or small, under clear or cloudy skies, music-making has been an essential part of the Park from the beginning.

We asked several New Yorkers—some of whom have been involved in the work to research and share Seneca Village’s stories—what this place and history means to them.

Here are 10 ways to combine a desire for a new you in the new year with the joy of spending time in Central Park.

New York, Harlem, and Central Park lost one of their most ardent supporters with the passing of Cal Jones.

Conservancy Historian Marie Warsh speaks with two archaeologists about their experience excavating Seneca Village artifacts and what the items have revealed about this community.

The present Seneca Village landscape is ripe with opportunities to engage with its past, and community members like CUNY professor Nadine Bryce and her students are finding creative ways to bring learning outside of the classroom and into the Park.

Despite legal restrictions on property rights for women in the 19th century, many found novel ways to overcome these barriers and gain land ownership in Seneca Village. Discover the stories of these women, the complex systemic hurdles they faced, and their ingenuity in navigating them.

Central Park has an extensive collection of historic features, statues, and monuments, including Alice in Wonderland, Balto, and tributes to Shakespeare, John Lennon, and Duke Ellington. Discover how the Central Park Conservancy preserves them all.

Harlem-based landscape architect Sara Zewde speaks to how both Frederick Law Olmsted and Seneca Village have informed and inspired her landscape design work.

This slice of Manhattan is unique in both its terrain and history. Native Americans, European settlers, immigrant communities, and Seneca Village residents all traversed here before the creation of Central Park. Here are a few of their stories.