Central Park Was Once Seneca Village, Home to a Thriving Free Black Community - Atlas Obscura
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
  • Trips
    • Upcoming Trips
    • All Trips Trips Blog
    Get the Atlas Obscura book
    Shop Now »

    Upcoming Trips

    View All Trips »

    Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco

    Pyramids at Giza

    Ancient Wonders: Egypt & The Nile

    Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon

    Culinary Naples: Producers, Purveyors, and Pizzaioli

  • Experiences

    Upcoming Experiences

    View All Experiences »
    Members only

    Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: St. Foy

    Members only

    Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes

    Members only

    Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins

    Washington

    The Spies of Georgetown

    Washington

    The Spies of Embassy Row

  • Courses

    Upcoming Courses

    View All Courses »

    Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown

    Mating Rituals of the Animal Kingdom With Dr. Sarah McAnulty

    Think Like A Museum: Curate Your Personal Collection with Alexis Hyde

    Thrills & Chills: Horror Story Writing With Nino Cipri

    The History of Color With Carolyn Purnell

  • Places
    • Top Destinations
    • Latest Places
    • Most Popular Places
    • Random Place
    • Lists
    • Itineraries
    • Add a Place
    • Download the App

    Latest Places

    View All Places »
    Labyrinth
    Alexandria, Virginia

    Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park Labyrinth

    38.8257, -77.0616
    The Big Camera
    Meckering, Australia

    The Big Camera

    -31.6317, 117.0072
    A traditional Armagnac alembic is on display.
    Condom, France

    Château Cugnac cellars

    43.9560, 0.3735
    Peering into the café.
    Sumida City, Japan

    Kissa Laundry

    35.6910, 139.7914

    Top Destinations

    View All Destinations »

    Countries

    • Australia
    • Canada
    • China
    • France
    • Germany
    • India
    • Italy
    • Japan

    Cities

    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Beijing
    • Berlin
    • Boston
    • Budapest
    • Chicago
    • London
    • Los Angeles
    • Mexico City
    • Montreal
    • Moscow
    • New Orleans
    • New York City
    • Paris
    • Philadelphia
    • Rome
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle
    • Stockholm
    • Tokyo
    • Toronto
    • Vienna
    • Washington, D.C.
  • Foods

    Latest Places to Eat & Drink

    View All Places to Eat »
    A traditional Armagnac alembic is on display.

    Château Cugnac cellars

     Peering into the café.

    Kissa Laundry

     A sign declares this the oldest bar in Nevada.

    Genoa Bar & Saloon

    Wheels of Gruyère maturing.

    La Maison du Gruyère

     Thousands of glinting cider bottles.

    Árbol de la Sidra
  • Stories
    • Recent Stories
    • All Stories
    • Puzzles
    • Video
    • Podcast

    Most Recent Stories

    View All Stories »
    TK

    The Oregon Lab Where Scientists Are Riding the Waves to a Brighter Future

     Built sometime around the sixth or seventh century, this ring fort is tucked between hills and farms in a remote corner of northwestern Ireland.

    What is a Fairy Fort?

    Podcast: The Westgate With Rico Gagliano

     Written and Photographed by Matt Payne

    Colorado Winter Wonderland

    Sponsored by Visit Colorado
  • Newsletters
  • Sign In Join
  • Explore Newsletters
  • Sign In
    Join
What's near me? Random Place Icon Random Place

Central Park Was Once Seneca Village, Home to a Thriving Free Black Community

A graphic history of the community displaced for the vast public park in 1857.

by Lucas Adams December 5, 2016
Central Park Was Once Seneca Village, Home to a Thriving Free Black Community
Read next

Listen to the Story of Tenzing Norgay, Who Stood on Top of the World

In the third episode of our new podcast Horizon Line, we recount the tale of the man whose personal Everest was, well, Mount Everest.
Sponsored by Filson
central parkplaces you can no longer goslaveryblack historyvisual
Using an ad blocker?

We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month.

Support Us
Keep Exploring
ruins

Podcast: Pricilla’s Homecoming

A family history, from Sierra Leone to South Carolina, 250 years in the making.
The Podcast Team December 20, 2022
islands

Podcast: Providence Island

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team October 13, 2022
castles

Podcast: Elmina Castle

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team September 7, 2022
culture

Inside America's Premier Black Rodeo, A Celebration of Cowboy Culture

A photographer captures perseverance and pride over a decade of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.
Gemma Tarlach June 28, 2022
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
From Around the Web
THE GASTRO OBSCURA BOOK
Taste the World!
An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Order Now
Gastro Obscura Book

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Thanks for subscribing! View all newsletters »

Follow Us

Get the app

Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
Download the App

Places

  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place

Editorial

  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters

Trips

  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Photography Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ

Experiences

  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ

Community

  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us

Company

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All rights reserved.

Thanks for sharing!

Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.

Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook

Want a Free Book?

Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.
No Thanks Visit AtlasObscura.com
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

Stay in Touch!

Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day.
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram No Thanks Visit AtlasObscura.com
No purchase necessary. Winner will be selected at random on 03/01/2023. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Offer subject to change without notice. See contest rules for full details.

Add Some Wonder to Your Inbox

Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you.
No Thanks

We'd Like You to Like Us

Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed.
No Thanks
aoc-full-screen aoc-heart-solid aoc-compass aoc-flipboard aoc-globe aoc-pocket aoc-share aoc-cancel aoc-video aoc-building aoc-clock aoc-clipboard aoc-help aoc-arrow-right aoc-arrow-left aoc-ticket aoc-place-entry aoc-facebook aoc-instagram aoc-reddit aoc-rss aoc-twitter aoc-accommodation aoc-activity-level aoc-add-a-photo aoc-add-box aoc-add-shape aoc-arrow-forward aoc-been-here aoc-chat-bubbles aoc-close aoc-expand-more aoc-expand-less aoc-forum-flag aoc-group-size aoc-heart-outline aoc-heart-solid aoc-home aoc-important aoc-knife-fork aoc-library-books aoc-link aoc-list-circle-bullets aoc-list aoc-location-add aoc-location aoc-mail aoc-map aoc-menu aoc-more-horizontal aoc-my-location aoc-near-me aoc-notifications-alert aoc-notifications-mentions aoc-notifications-muted aoc-notifications-tracking aoc-open-in-new aoc-pencil aoc-person aoc-pinned aoc-plane-takeoff aoc-plane passport-plane aoc-print aoc-reply aoc-search aoc-shuffle aoc-star aoc-subject aoc-trip-style aoc-unpinned aoc-send aoc-phone aoc-apps aoc-lock aoc-verified