Exploring Unknown Manhattan: The Audubon and Jumel Terrace Historic Districts.
Time & Location
About The Event
This tour costs $10.00 (payable the day of the tour) with all proceeds to the Broadway Mall Association (BMA), a non-profit organization that has worked to beautify and maintain the malls (essentially a linear park) for the past 30 years. This is the second in a series of three tours to raise awareness of this unique linear park in the center of Broadway. The malls extend from Lincoln Center to 168th Street. Read more here: www.broadwaymall.org.
This walk will cover the area from 155th Street to 168th Street both East and West of Broadway in Lower Washington Heights. Tour ends at 168th Street and Broadway.
The Audubon Park area, a distinctive residential enclave and historic district, was once the home of painter and naturalist John James Audubon and now is occupied by Manhattan's only active cemetery (Trinity Church Cemetery). You will be surprised to learn of some of the people buried here. While enjoying some of the Audubon bird-themed murals, we'll also stop by to see the distinctive buildings on Audubon Terrace, once America's premiere museum and cultural, with distinctive Beaux Arts buildings within a courtyard setting.
Further uptown we'll also visit the grounds of the delightful Morris Jumel Mansion (pictured at the top), Manhattan's oldest house built in 1765 which once served as General George Washington's headquarters in 1776 and where in 1790 as President he dined with members of his cabinet: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. You will scarcely believe that you are in Manhattan while strolling these quiet streets that surround the mansion. Rounding out the tour will be a stop at the Malcolm X Memorial and for baseball fans we will traverse the site where the Yankees began as the New York Highlanders.
Meeting Place: In front of Cafe Taszo or grab a seat in the nearby small triangle park (Ilka Tanya Payan Park), located on the Westside of Broadway near the 157th Street. The #1 subway gets you right there. Note you can also take the A train to 168th Street either walk, ride Broadway bus or take the #1 downtown one stop.
There are a few cafes steps from our meeting place - for restrooms, coffee, snacks. Boston Market on the corner and 2 places on Edward Morgan Place, including Cafe Taszo around the corner from the downtown #1 subway entrance.
Cheers,
Hank
646-596-3005