Annual Independence Day Celebration & Historic Tour of Lower Manhattan

Join us for a 4th of July commemoration on this warmup to Independence Day. We'll follow in the footsteps of the founders as we visit historic sites of Lower Manhattan and the Financial District with a special focus on the role of New York City in events leading up to the American Revolution, during the revolution, as well as the aftermath during the formation of the government and when New York City became America's first Capital in 1789. Pictured above in George Washington's inauguration at Federal Hall on Wall Street. We'll cover such events as The Battle of Golden Hill in January, 1770, which was the first bloodshed of the American Revolution, and the dramatic retreat by the American troops across the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan undertaken by General Washington on August 29-30, 1776 to save the Revolution from defeat.

As we would do on a walking tour we'll see some of the architectural treasures of the Financial District, along with sites where history was made including Thomas Jefferson's home ("the room where it happened"), where Alexander Hamilton lived and worked, and Fraunces Tavern, which served as the first headquarters of the American Government. Meetings were held there and throughout Lower Manhattan that played a role in the planning of the American Revolution. We'll stop at Manahatta Park on Water Street, the site of New York's largest slave market in the 18th century. This serves as a reminder that amid all the glory of achieving the freedom to start a new independent country, which was a monumental achievement, that our city was initially built by slave labor, and that this abominable and inhumane system of owning people in the State of New York did not end until 1827, 44 years after the end of the American Revolution.

The American experiment continues to this day as we seek to much more strongly ensure that the rights and freedoms expressed in the U.S. Constitution and its amendments can be fully realized by all people to the fullest extent. INSTRUCTIONS: You do not need a zoom account or a password (embedded in link) to participate. Note that if you try to enter the meeting through your own zoom a password will be required. Only members who have RSVP'd as "going" will see the link. I will send out an email reminder with the link prior to the event. Computers work better than ipads and smart phones for this type of meeting but you can use either. Please "arrive" a little early in case there are any technical difficulties or if you have yet to experience a zoom meeting.

You will have the option of seeing fellow members and being seen by others. You can mute or unmute yourself and can enable gallery view to see your fellow members on your screen. Thank you for your cooperation.