Press Release
On the 200th anniversary of Seneca Village’s founding, a new series of public programs will deepen understanding and foster dialogue about race, history, and public space.
Free tour of Seneca Village this weekend with Central Park Conservancy tour guides.
NEW YORK, NY (February 18, 2025) — Today, the Central Park Conservancy, the non-profit organization and civic institution responsible for the long-term care, maintenance, and restoration of Central Park, announced a new initiative that will support its long-term goal of permanently commemorating Seneca Village in Central Park. On the 200th anniversary of the founding of Seneca Village in 1825, the Conservancy will host a series of free public programs over the next few years aimed at deepening the public’s understanding of its history and residents. Supported by funding from the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project Initiative, these programs will encourage new ways of thinking about commemoration, foster constructive dialogue about the intersection of race and history in public spaces, and gather community and expert input on the next phase of Seneca Village’s commemoration.
"Seneca Village is a vital part of the history of New York City and Central Park, and that community’s memory deserves to be honored within Central Park’s landscape. The Central Park Conservancy is thrilled to lead these conversations with the public to deepen our collective understanding of its legacy,” said Betsy Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy. “We are grateful to our partners at the Mellon Foundation for their generous support, which makes this important initiative possible. We look forward to hearing from the community and continuing the important work of ensuring that Seneca Village’s history is celebrated for generations to come."
The first of these programs will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. This inaugural event will highlight the legacy of Seneca Village and set the stage for the program series, which will be designed to facilitate conversation and collaboration through public discussions, educational events, community workshops, and more.
Seneca Village was a community established by free Blacks with high rates of property ownership that flourished from the early 19th century until the City acquired the land through eminent domain in the 1850s to build Central Park. The Central Park Conservancy is committed to preserving and sharing the history of Seneca Village, a legacy that has often been overlooked.
The programming series will culminate with the development of a community-informed framework for Seneca Village’s permanent commemoration within Central Park. The Conservancy invites all New Yorkers to participate in this ongoing dialogue to help shape a commemoration that honors the history, culture, and significance of this remarkable community.
This weekend, the Central Park Conservancy is offering free tours of Seneca Village. Visitors will explore the historical landscape of Seneca Village, learning about its significance as a refuge for Black New Yorkers amidst 19th-century racial discrimination and overcrowding. Official Central Park Conservancy Tour Guides will share insights into the community's unique role in the City’s history and the events that resulted in the displacement of its residents for the construction of Central Park.
For more information about the initiative, upcoming events, and the history of Seneca Village, please visit the Central Park Conservancy website.
Click here for b-roll of the Seneca Village project.
Click here for a 3-D model of what Seneca Village may have looked like in the summer of 1855.
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ABOUT THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from the pace and pressures of city life, enhancing the enjoyment and wellbeing of all. The Conservancy’s staff of more than 300 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.