For Teachers

Programs

The African Burial Ground National Monument offers off-site, on-site, and virtual ranger-led presentations. Reservations are neccessary to ensure adequate preparation and staff availability. On-site presentations may be scheduled collectively or individually.

Virtual presentation

The African Burial Ground is currently offering virtual presentations that are 60-minutes long. During the program, the ranger shows a film approximately 20 minutes in length and then speaks on the history and significance of the site from its establishment to the opening of the new visitor center.

To request a virtual program, please fill out this form.

Off-site presentation - Available virtually only

Off-site presentations consist of a 60-minute program offered by NPS staff at your location. The ranger shows a film approximately 20 minutes in length and then speaks on the history and significance of the site from its establishment to the opening of the new visitor center.

On-site presentation - Available through reservation only

The Guided AFBG Tour consists of a 90-minute program led by NPS staff. The program includes a 20-minute film, an orientation to the exhibits, and an opportunity for self led exploration of the visitor center's interactive elements. The Guided AFBG Tour also includes a 30-minute Guided Outdoor Memorial Tour in the spring and summer, or a Guided Art Tour in the fall and winter.

The Guided Outdoor Memorial Tour is roughly 30 minutes in total. The talk highlights the symbolism and significance of the memorial and the efforts to preserve and protect this sacred place.

The Guided Art Tour is roughly 30 minutes in total. The ranger-led program explores the artwork commissioned by the General Services Administration on display in the lobby of the Ted Weiss Federal Building.

 

If you have questions regarding visitation to African Burial Ground National Monument or the reservation process, please call [phone].

 

A visit to our site can help visitors learn about history they never knew before

National Park Service

Discover the African Burial Ground National Monument: A Lightning Lesson from Teaching with Historic Places

A lightning lesson from teaching with historic places has officially launched on the National Park Service website. This is the lesson plan. If you use it with your students, give us your feedback. We appreciate it!

In the lesson, students analyze a map of colonial New York before “digging” into experiences of enslaved people in the city and investigating the role of archeology in the historic cemetery's rediscovery. Students will examine evidence of how Africans and African Americans honored the deceased at the site over the centuries. With this information, students will develop theories about the influence of the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the African diaspora, and how cultural traditions give meaning to life and death.