Central Park Was Once Seneca Village, Home to a Thriving Free Black Community - Atlas Obscura
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
It’s finally here! Download our iOS app and discover the world’s hidden wonders on the go!
It’s finally here! Download our iOS app and discover the world’s hidden wonders on the go! LAUNCH PARTNER
  • Trips
    • Upcoming Trips
    • All Trips Trips Blog
    Get the Atlas Obscura book
    Shop Now »

    Upcoming Trips

    View All Trips »

    Photographing Chernobyl in Winter

    Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends

    Oaxaca: Tastes of Past & Present

    Mexico City to Oaxaca: Tracing the Threads of Frida Kahlo’s Dresses

  • Experiences

    Quick Links

    • Online Courses
    • Online Experiences

    Upcoming Experiences

    View All Experiences »

    Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown

    Making Music With Nature: Composing Across Species With David Rothenberg

    Feather, Bone, Skin: Taxidermy for Art & Design With Allis Markham

    Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

  • Courses

    Upcoming Courses

    View All Courses »

    Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown

    Making Music With Nature: Composing Across Species With David Rothenberg

    Feather, Bone, Skin: Taxidermy for Art & Design With Allis Markham

    China's Regional Cuisines: Culture Through Food With Xiaokun Song

    Cheese: History, Tasting, and Pairing With Erika Kubick

  • Places
    • Top Destinations
    • Newly Added Places
    • Most Popular Places
    • Random Place
    • Lists
    • Itineraries
    • Add a Place
    • DOWNLOAD THE iOS APP apple store logo

    Newly Added Places

    View All Places »
    Axe Majeur
    Cergy, France

    'Axe Majeur' ('Major Axis')

    49.0423, 2.0377
    Floor and doors
    New York, New York

    WTC Station 'E' Subway Entrance

    40.7117, -74.0121
    David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
    Nairobi, Kenya

    David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

    -1.3788, 36.7749
    The King and Queen's Knots
    Stirling, Scotland

    The King's Knot

    56.1201, -3.9495

    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

    Newly Added Places to Eat & Drink

    View All Places to Eat »

    Bellagio Patisserie Chocolate Fountain

     The entrance to Owamni.

    Owamni

     The entrance to the museum.

    Thirty Nine

     Cream of fiddlehead and broccoli soup.

    Yawékon by Chef Tawnya Brant

    Smokey Joe's
  • Stories

    Most Recent Stories

    View All Stories »
    Tube worms crowd around the Matterhorn, a hydrothermal vent in the Gulf of California, photographed by ROV <em>SuBastian</em> during a recent expedition that included artist-at-sea Ale de la Puente.

    A Deep Dive Into the Intersection of Art and Science With an Artist-at-Sea

     Music is central to Bonairian culture. Here, Calixto Coffie, Nacho Alberto, and Frank Evertsz perform.

    The All-Day, All-Night Musical Celebrations of Bonaire

     Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, French Shore locals embroidered their own history for posterity.

    How a Tiny Hamlet's Wondrous Tapestry Preserves a Complex Past

     Aldi shoppers are not birds, but they sometimes sound like they are.

    Meet the Proud Shoppers of Aldi’s ‘Aisle of Shame’

    Podcast: Centers for Disease Control Museum
  • Sign In Join
  • Sign In
    Join
What's near me?

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
slavery

For Enslaved Cooks, Persimmon Beer Combined Ingenuity and Joy

A conversation with Michael Twitty about the powerful history behind a centuries-old beverage.
Diana Hubbell November 12, 2021
museums

A Stunning Archive of the Work of Early Black Photographers

A new collection acquired by the Smithsonian is a window into Black history.
April White September 15, 2021
food

Introducing Gastro Obscura's Juneteenth Series

Celebrate Emancipation with stories of food and Black liberation.
Michael Twitty, Guest Editor June 15, 2021
underground railroad

The Photographer Who Reimagined the Darkness of the Underground Railroad

How acclaimed artist Dawoud Bey used the landscape to tell the story of the unseen.
Winnie Lee March 11, 2021
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

apple store logo

Places

  • Recently Added
  • Most Popular
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place

Foods

  • Latest
  • Food & Drink
  • Stories
  • Places
  • Add a Food

Trips

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

Experiences

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

Community

  • Membership
  • Travel Forum
  • Latest Posts
  • Top Posts

Company

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Work With Us
  • Advertising
  • Press
  • Unique Gifts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2021 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 01/01/2022. 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 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