Washington & Hamilton: Secrets of the Past
Immersive New York City Walking Tour
Celebrate America’s 250th! Walk Revolutionary New York, Where History Happened
Step directly into the world of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton on an immersive journey through Lower Manhattan — the very ground where the American Revolution unfolded and a new nation took shape.
Led by a licensed New York City guide and historian with more than 25 years of experience, this three-hour walking experience turns historic streets into a living narrative. Through vivid storytelling, period images, and powerful on-site moments, you’ll explore the challenges, triumphs, and personalities that defined America’s founding era. You’ll also discover the critical role New York City played in the founding of the United States.
Follow the footsteps of Washington — general and first president — and Hamilton, the ambitious immigrant whose ideas reshaped the nation’s future. As you walk by Bowling Green, Fraunces Tavern, Wall Street, Federal Hall, and Trinity Churchyard, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Revolution’s human drama and the extraordinary people behind it. Along the way, discover the vital roles played by women, African Americans, and lesser-known patriots whose contributions helped bring revolutionary ideals to life.
What Makes This Hamilton & Washington Walking Tour Unique
- Led by a historian and licensed NYC guide with over 25 years of experience
- A fully immersive three-hour exploration of Revolutionary New York
- Authentic historic sites tied directly to the nation’s founding
- Rich storytelling supported by historical images and real-world context
- Engaging for fans of the musical Hamilton, as well as history enthusiasts
Stories You’ll Experience
- The conflict that ignited the American Revolution
- New York’s dramatic public reaction to the first reading of the Declaration of Independence
- Washington’s daring wartime escape after the largest battle of the war
- His emotional farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern
- Revolutionary espionage and the secrets of the Culper Spy Ring
- The shaping of the Constitution
- The creation of Hamilton’s brilliant financial system
- The powerful contributions of women and African Americans to the Patriot cause
- The rivalry that led to Hamilton’s fatal duel with Aaron Burr
- …and many moments that bring the founding era vividly to life
Perfect For
- Visitors of all ages looking for a meaningful, educational NYC experience
- Fans of early American history and founding-era stories
- Hamilton Broadway enthusiasts wanting deeper historical context
- New Yorkers eager to discover their city’s revolutionary past
- Travelers marking America’s 250th anniversary
Secrets of Central Park Walking Tour
Alternatively (and in the winter months), there is also the Central Park Experience: A Scenic & Historical Walking Tour. Scroll down or click for information.
Get away from it all and immerse yourself in some of the least-visited, most scenic and historical parts in the Best Central Park Walking Tour in New York City.
“Translate Democratic ideas into trees and dirt” is how Calvert Vaux, the partner of Frederick Olmstead, described the concept of a Central Park in the 1850’s. It is a park for all people. Today, with about 42 million visitors annually, the park continues to fulfill that vision. Set in the center of the largest city in the United States, the majestic 843 acre, man-made, 2.5 mile long park, set in the largest city in the United States continues to astound. As a New Yorker or visitor, you’ve probably seen the well-known places of Central Park such as the Lake and Bethesda Fountain, but this tour, the Secret Places of Central Park will take you to places that will surprise and delight you. The tour is conducted by Bruce Racond, a licensed New York City tour guide with 20 years experience. Please see the current TripAdvisor reviews.
You will be amazed as you . . .
- Explore the forest of oak hickory, maple and ash trees of the North Woods.
- Visit the Secret Garden of the Conservatory Gardens
- See an ornate French iron gate that protected Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s mansion
- Hear about the history and see the grounds of a convent built on the site of Central Park
- “Look out” for invaders as you stand high on fortresses from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812
- Overlook the scenic vistas of the Harlem Meer and Fort Clinton
- Tread the same ground that General George Washington rode on to triumphantly retake New York in 1783
- Stroll near an 1866 arch made of uncut boulders of Manhattan schist
- Find peace and tranquility along the beautiful Loch and waterfalls of the captivating Ravine. . . and so much more!
You will be transported to scenery of the Adirondacks, right in the middle of Manhattan island!
You’ll learn the fascinating history of the park and gain an even greater appreciation for what the creators Frederick Law Olmstead, Calvert Vaux and commissioner, Andrew Haswell Green accomplished 160 years ago. You’ll see alternative proposals for the park’s design, and find out what was there before. This tour is a must for lovers of New York City and Central Park.
THE BEST OF BROOKLYN WALKING TOUR
Discover the best Brooklyn tour and the revolutionary history of Brooklyn in this exciting walking tour!
Discover the revolution that is Brooklyn in this exciting Brooklyn walking tour! Step back in time and experience the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights. Discover the borough’s revolutionary history and modern reinvention from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to today. Take in breathtaking waterfront vistas, extraordinary locales, picturesque parks, and cultural surprises. The Revolutionary Brooklyn Walking Tour is led by a 20-year historian and licensed New York City tour guide.
Our journey begins by crossing the historic Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan. Learn about the 14-year epic saga of the great engineering achievement of the 19th century that connected the “twin cities” of Brooklyn and New York.
We’ll continue in DUMBO where you’ll discover how a dilapidated warehouse and factory district was transformed into a prime residential, cultural, and commercial/tech center that businesses such as Etsy and West Elm call home. Enjoy a stop at the first store of the most famous chocolate maker in New York, Jacques Torres. You’ll see the stunning Brooklyn Bridge Park, and encounter awe-inspiring views, and a perfectly restored 1922 carousel within a “crystal” box.
We’ll stand near where George Washington conducted a maritime retreat in 1776 that saved American independence during the Revolutionary War and where Robert Fulton operated steamboat ferries to and from the Brooklyn suburbs. We’ll also explore Brooklyn Heights, New York City’s first suburb and historic district, with spectacular views of Manhattan from the Promenade. Discover hundreds of elegant pre-Civil War homes and hear stories of famous residents such as Truman Capote. See a house from the movie “Moonstruck,” and discover the 1849 church visited by Abraham Lincoln and led by the most famous preacher in America, Henry Ward Beecher.
Experience the cultural and historical phenomenon that is Brooklyn on this walking tour. Reserve your place by joining the “Brooklyn Revolution” tour today!
Here are just a few of the many experiences that await you:
- We’ll start in Manhattan with a walk over the monumental Brooklyn Bridge and take in breathtaking vistas of the Manhattan skyline. You will discover the epic story of the Brooklyn Bridge, the great engineering achievement of the 19th century, and learn about the family that helped create it
- Visit the stunning, recently built Brooklyn Bridge Park on the picturesque waterfront near the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges
- Visit Jacques Torres chocolate shop, the most famous chocolatier in New York City
- Walk through the DUMBO neighborhood and experience the modern transformation of an 1800s factory and warehouse district into a sensational commercial and residential neighborhood
- See a fully-restored sensational 1922 carousel on the river
- Visit historic locations involving George Washington and the Revolutionary War
- Walk through the elegant and quiet tree-lined streets of Brooklyn Heights with hundreds of beautiful townhouses from the 1800s
- See the historic 1849 Plymouth Church that helped elect Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, led by the charismatic minister Henry Ward Beecher, brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin . . . The church was known as the “Grand Central Depot” of New York’s Underground Railroad. Discover the church’s fascinating history and legacy of abolitionism
- Walk along the streets featured in famous movies such as Moonstruck with Cher and Nicholas Cage
- See the mansion where Truman Capote lived and wrote “Breakfast at Tiffany’s . . . and so much more!
Experience the cultural and historical phenomenon that is Brooklyn on this walking tour. Reserve your place by joining the “Best of Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Revolution” tour today!
Led by licensed New York City tour guide Bruce Racond, who has spent more than 20 years entertaining and educating visitors on the vast history and showing the unique locations of New York.
Central Park Experience: A Scenic & Historical Walking Tour
Experience the ultimate lower Central Park tour. Whether you are a first-time visitor or have visited the park numerous times, you’ll make discoveries and learn the intricacies of this urban artistic masterpiece.
Indulge in the spectacular scenery, hidden gems, history, and original motivations for creating the first large-scale public park in the United States. Experience the park with a New York City historian and Licensed New York City Tour Guide with over twenty years of experience in educating and entertaining.
This walking tour traverses Central Park from 59th Street through the Pool, Mall, Bethesda Terrace, Angel of the Waters statue, Lake, Bow Bridge, Ramble, Belvedere Castle, and Shakespeare Garden. You will overlook the majestic Great Lawn, the Delacorte Theater, and Turtle Pond. You’ll also discover the pre-park history, including an African American and immigrant community that thrived for thirty years before the park’s construction.
The tour is conducted by Bruce Racond, a historian and licensed New York City tour guide with over 20 years of experience. Please see the current TripAdvisor reviews.
You will be captivated as you . . .
- Discover the intricacies and history of Central Park with a New York City historian and licensed tour guide with over twenty years of experience
- Encounter breathtaking vistas throughout the tour
- Learn about Central Park’s fascinating history, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s design and vision, and the ambitious fifteen-year construction
- Walk through the exquisite Bethesda Terrace, Bethesda Arcade, and see the glorious Angel of the Waters statue and Jacob Wrey Mould’s delicate stonecutting designs
- See the Dairy, a wooden Victorian structure first built in the 1860s and the surrounding children’s “Kinderberg”
- Delight in the spacious fifteen-acre Sheep Meadow and learn about the Southdown sheep that once grazed there
- Walk over the elegant cast iron Bow Bridge seen in numerous classic movies
- Depart the chaos of the city as you walk through the tranquil and mystical landscape of the Ramble
- Stand before the Gothic Revival Belvedere Castle and take in impressive views of the famous Great Lawn
- Stroll along the Mall surrounded by rows of magnificent American Elms and pay homage to “Women’s Rights Pioneers” in the recent monument
- Discover life before Central Park, including the remarkable African American and immigrant community named Seneca Village . . . and so much more!
This tour is for first-time, experienced visitors, and native New Yorkers alike. There’s much more to Central Park than meets the eye! Delights and surprises await you in the most famous and visited urban park in the United States.
