Seneca Village Landscape
To a modern-day visitor, the site of Seneca Village resembles much of the surrounding Park, with rolling hills, rock outcrops, and playgrounds.
But what many don’t realize is that this area near the Park’s West 85th Street entrance has an exceptional history. During the first half of the 19th century it was home to Seneca Village—a community of predominantly African-Americans, many of whom owned property.
The village existed between 1825 and 1857. In 1855 there were approximately 225 residents, a population that consisted of roughly two-thirds African-Americans, one-third Irish immigrants, and a small number of Germans. There were over 50 homes in Seneca Village, plus three churches and a school. For African-American property owners, Seneca Village provided residential stability and an investment in the future. Another incentive to owning property at the time was that it gave African-Americans the right to vote.
When the City decided to build Central Park, it used eminent domain to acquire the land. Residents were compensated for their property and had to leave by 1857. After they dispersed, all traces of the settlement were lost to history. Since the 1990s, scholars and archeologists have been working to bring the history of Seneca Village to light. In 2011, a group called the Institute for the Exploration of Seneca Village History collaborated with the Central Park Conservancy to conduct an excavation at the site. They uncovered stone foundation walls and thousands of artifacts from residents that offer valuable clues to better understanding this extraordinary community.
Seneca Village: The Williams Family Legacy
The Central Park Conservancy explores the history of Seneca Village by speaking to historians and Ariel Williams, a descendant of Seneca Village resident Andrew Williams.
In 2019, the Conservancy installed a temporary outdoor exhibit of signs that share decades of research about Seneca Village, and allows visitors to learn about community members in the place where they actually lived. Conservancy-led Seneca Village Tours also explore the community’s history and lives of its residents, and reveals what recent archaeological discoveries show about this remarkable community and its place in 19th-century New York.
Additional Resources on Seneca Village
In recent years, the Conservancy has undertaken a major effort to conduct new research on Seneca Village. Visit our new page to explore a curated list of articles, tours, videos, and updates about this community.
Things you can do here
Events
Celebrate Juneteenth in Seneca Village
Celebrate the spirit of community and the history of Seneca Village with art, musical performances, hands-on family-friendly activities, and more!
Tags: Staff Picks / Kids and Families
Self-Guided Tours
A Walk Through History and Culture
Tags: History / Art & Architecture
Tours
Seneca Village Tour
2:00 pmBefore Central Park was built, the area from West 82nd to West 89th Street was home to Seneca Village, the largest community of African-American property owners in New York.
Tags: History
Guides
Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Central Park
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.
Tags: Kids and Families / Health & Fitness / Art & Architecture / Wildlife
Self-Guided Tours
Guide to Seneca Village Outdoor Exhibit
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.
Tags: History
Also in the area
Read more
Park History
New Yorkers on the Significance of Seneca Village
Tags: Conservancy Staff / History
Park History
How the Landscape of Seneca Village Can Reveal its History
The site of Seneca Village in Central Park resembles many other Park landscapes, with rolling hills, winding paths, trees, playgrounds, and rock outcrops.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Trees / History / Nature Lovers / Park Experts
Q&As
5 Questions with Cal Jones, Manhattan Borough Historian Emeritus
Tags: History
Park History
Concerts of Note: Central Park’s Musical Highlights
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.
Tags: History / Art Lovers
Park History
How to Engage with the History of Seneca Village
The current movement for racial justice—which includes elevating Black history, culture, and stories—has sparked a renewed interest in Seneca Village, a community of predominantly African-Americans that existed before the creation of Central Park.
Tags: Tips for Visiting / About the Conservancy
Park History
Before Central Park: The Story of Seneca Village
An introduction to Seneca Village, the largest community of free African-American property owners in pre-Civil War New York.
Tags: About the Conservancy / History
Park History
5 Questions with Nadine Bryce, CUNY Professor, on Seneca Village
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.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / About the Conservancy / History / Landscapes
Park History
Before Juneteenth: The Story of Seneca Village and Central 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.
Tags: Families / History / Park Experts / First-Time Visitors
Park History
From Coverture to Control: The Empowerment of Seneca Village’s Women
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.
Tags: History
Park Information
10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Central Park-Lover
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.
Park History
Before Central Park: Native Americans, European Settlers, Immigrant Communities, and Seneca Village
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.
Tags: Park Design / History / Park Experts
Park History
Dishes, Shoes, and Tiles: The Excavation of the Seneca Village Site
Conservancy Historian Marie Warsh speaks with two archaeologists about their experience excavating Seneca Village artifacts and what the items have revealed about this community.
Tags: History / Park Experts
Article
5 Questions with Sara Zewde, Landscape Architect and Founder of Harlem’s Studio Zewde
Harlem-based landscape architect Sara Zewde speaks to how both Frederick Law Olmsted and Seneca Village have informed and inspired her landscape design work.
Tags: Park Design / History / Landscape Design
Park History
Artifacts and Archives: The Rediscovery and Research of Seneca Village
Learn about the historical research of this community of predominantly African-Americans, many of whom owned property.
Tags: History
Park History
Remembering Cal Jones, Manhattan Borough Historian Emeritus & Friend of the Central Park Conservancy
New York, Harlem, and Central Park lost one of their most ardent supporters with the passing of Cal Jones.
Tags: History
About the Conservancy
Preserving Central Park’s Art: The Rising Generation of Monument Conservators
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.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Rustic Architecture / History / Highlights / Staff Picks / Art Lovers / Architecture / Landscapes
Park History
Finding Joy in a History of Loss: Juneteenth in Central Park's Seneca Village
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.
Tags: Families / History / Best for Kids / Art Lovers