NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

In May of 1991, on a lot at the corner of Duane and Elk Streets, part of an 18th-century burial ground for people of African descent was discovered. To date 427 graves, winding through five city blocks, have been found. Research shows that nearly half of the skeletons are of individuals age 12 and under. Virtually all lived hard lives, as evinced by the many bone fractures characteristic of a life spent hauling heavy loads. Ninety-two percent of the graves reveal burial patterns known to exist in some African societies:  e.g. filed teeth, one woman with 111 glass waist-beads. One find was especially prescient: a coffin bearing tacks in the shape of a heart, later identified as the Ashanti symbol sankofa, which roughly translated means look to the past to inform the future. The discovery is a reminder that slavery was not exclusive to the south. New York City was, in fact, a major slave port in the 1700s, the terrible practice having been introduced a century earlier by the Dutch. Plans for a permanent memorial exhibit have been proposed, as has an African-American museum.

Click All locations, above, for information about the adjacent visitor center. For additional information about the monument, click here.

• Directions: Subway: 4, 5, 6, J, Z to Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall

• ADA Compliant Restrooms
• Disability Access: Fully accessible
• Disability Assistance: The visitor center's assistive listening devices are hearing aid compatible.
• On-Site Parking: Parking in area is difficult, with few metered spots available. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.