The Soul of Harlem Walking Tour in New York

5.0 (245 reviews) 2 h 30 min Free cancellation

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245 reviews

5.0

At the Langston Hughes House — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Giving instructions to a Chicago youth — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Our 10,000-step journey will begin with a bird' s-eye view of 125th Street, Harlem's most popular street. The main themes we will discuss are the Harlem Renaissance and gentrification.

We walk by and discuss these famous places:

The world's famous Apollo Theater
Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant
The home of Langston Hughes
Astor's Row
Several iconic murals

This tour is based on a book I have written, "You Are Here: A Geographic History of Enslaved and Free Africans in Manhattan from 1613 to 1865." I will use my tour guide experience (I have given over 700 tours) to make this a fun-filled tour. Best of all, you will have a Harlem experience—see the friendly culture, people, and places of Harlem.

If you are behind schedule, please get in touch with me ASAP. I will have a 5-minute grace period. Afterward, I will proceed to our first stop—the Metro-North Railroad (above-ground train station) directly across the street from the Ginjan Cafe on Park Ave.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 10 people
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English
Operated by: You Are Here Walking Tours LLC

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–8 years) · Youth (9–12 years) · Adults (13–50 years) · Seniors (51–75 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Depending on the availability, we may have access inside one of Harlem's 14 farms - Harlem Grown.

Itinerary

Stop 1

10 min

Get a View of Harlem's Famous 125th Street at the Metro-North Train Station Platform. Also view art works describing Harlem's history.
Harlem

1 h 20 min

Along with the listed attractions, We will see and discuss the history of the Metro-North train station, Astor's Row, The "White House" in Harlem, The YMCA, several famous murals in Harlem, Lenox Terrace, Harlem Hospital, Harlem State Office Building, and Blumsteins Department store - the place where MLK almost lost his life, walk the streets of Harlem to get a true sense of the culture and people in the neighborhoods.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

15 min

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
Langston Hughes House

10 min

Langston Hughes House is a historic home located in Harlem. Mr. Hughes is an iconic figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes will be a major topic during the tour.
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem

10 min

The Museum is open only Thursday- Saturday.

Review famous Jazz Musicians associated with the Harlem Renaissance, see current exhibits, vintage jazz photos, maps, books, etc.
Apollo Theater

5 min

The World Famous Apollo theater is a mainstay in Harlem. We will discuss the "Walk of Fame" in front of the theater, as well as the many stars that performed there.
Stop 7

5 min

The Theresa Hotel. We will walk by the hotel and discuss its rich Harlem history.