LOWER MANHATTAN | TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 | 4 P.M. – 8 P.M. | FREE

SPEND THE EVENING VISITING MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES IN LOWER MANHATTAN, WHERE NEW YORK’S HISTORY AND CULTURE BEGIN.

The museums and historic landmarks of Lower Manhattan are an American treasure. Explore one of the most diverse and concentrated groups of museums in the world – all within comfortable walking distance of each other. This annual event takes place rain or shine.

Pick up your Night at the Museums Guide on June 25, 2019 at any of the participating institutions. You can print a guide from this site to start. Get the most out of this event by planning your evening.

Experience the growing and vibrant food scene in Lower Manhattan. Visit downtownny.com/getlow to find out how to get discounts, freebies, and other surprises at 35 restaurants across the district. This is available only on Tuesdays through the summer.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS is produced by the Downtown Cultural Association and is part of the RIVER TO RIVER FESTIVAL 2019, featuring free arts events from June 18 to 29 throughout Lower Manhattan. For details, visit LMCC.net. LMCC is partnering with Black Gotham Experience who will provide three free tours between 4 and 7 p.m during the event. Sign up in advance for the free tours at the Black Gotham Website at blackgotham.com

Pick up your Night at the Museums Guide on June 25, 2019, at any of the participating institutions.

You can print a guide from this site to start.

Don’t miss the free special events at many of the venues.

VENUES

African Burial Ground National Monument, a unit of the National Park Service, is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It began to use in the 17th century but was only rediscovered in 1991. The story is both of the Africans whose holy place this was, but also the story of the modern-day New Yorkers who fought to honor these ancestors. Programming: Tour the visitor center, rangers will be on hand to answer questions and provide periodic presentations. View the film Our Time At Last, which details the history of the African Burial Ground from its creation, through its rediscovery, and onto its designation as a national park. www.nps.gov/afbg

Founded in 1926, China Institute is a non-partisan organization that is the go-to resource on China. Its diverse programs, school, and gallery exhibitions bring to life the depth, complexity, and dynamism of China. Visitors can enjoy tours of our latest Gallery exhibit “Art of the Mountain: Through the Chinese Photographer’s Lens” alongside live Chinese music performances, art activities, and short films. Visit China Institute at 40 Rector Street, on the second floor. www.chinaInstitute.org

Federal Hall National Memorial features exhibits that present the history of Federal Hall, a museum and memorial to America’s first President and the beginnings of the United States. National Park Service Ranger-led tours will take place on the hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the Junior Ranger program features activities for kids. Visitors can also pick up a copy of the Bill of Rights as well as other giveaways. While supplies last. www.nps.gov/feha

Fraunces Tavern® Museum is the only museum located in Manhattan that focuses on the Colonial period, Revolutionary War and the Early Republic. Stand in the room where General George Washington bid farewell to his officers, explore special exhibitions such as Fear & Force: New York City’s Sons of Liberty and Confidential: The American Revolution’s Agents of Espionage, and learn how important New York City was during the birth of the nation at this historic site and museum. Special Night at the Museums programming includes live 18th-century music and dance lessons provided by the Tricorne Dance Ensemble; guided tours of the museum; and a Colonial Costume Photo Booth. frauncestavernmuseum.org

Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is New York’s contribution to the global responsibility to never forget. The museum is committed to the crucial mission of educating diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust. On view for free during Night at the Museums are: Ordinary Treasures: Highlights from the Museum of Jewish Heritage Collection, Dimensions in Testimony created by USC Shoah Foundation, and Andy Goldsworthy’s Garden of Stones. Tours of Ordinary Treasures will be offered on the hour from 4–7 p.m. Note: Ticket is required for entry to the special exhibition. www.mjhnyc.org

National Archives at New York City connects visitors to our nation’s history. Our theme is Revolutionaries and Rights and the historic strides taken throughout history. Engage with costumed historical interpreters throughout the building. Stop into our Learning Center to discover many of the national treasures of New York, go on an “Archival Adventure,” and pull archival facsimile documents off the shelves. In the Welcome Center, view original documents and the new exhibit “New York on the Record: Rightfully Hers” about women and the right to vote. In the Research Center, begin a journey into family history research/genealogy by examining immigrant arrivals (including Ellis Island), federal census and naturalization (citizenship) records, plus so much more. For additional details visit: www.archives.gov/nyc

National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution illuminates through exhibitions and programs the diversity of Native peoples of the Americas, from the Arctic Circle to the southern tip of Patagonia. Experience the newly opened imagiNATIONS Activity Center, a family-friendly, interactive learning environment where the focus is Native innovations throughout history that shape the modern world. Also, view the “Infinity of Nations,” “Taíno,” and “T.C. Cannon” exhibitions, as well as the exquisite Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. The museum is located at One Bowling Green. Please visit the calendar at americanIndian.si.edu for tour details.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the country’s principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events, and exploring 9/11’s continuing significance. Free admission is from 5–8 p.m. on Tuesdays, with the last admission two hours prior to closing. Tickets are not available in advance and will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis at the museum starting at 4 p.m. Distribution time is subject to change. www.911memorial.org

9/11 Tribute Museum is a project of the September 11th Families’ Association and offers visitors a place where they can connect with people from the 9/11 community: survivors, family members who lost loved ones, first responders, recovery workers, and people who live and work in Lower Manhattan. Visitors will learn about the historic events of that day, along with the personal experiences of those who lived it, the unprecedented rescue and recovery operations, and the tremendous spirit of support and generosity that arose after the attacks. 911tributemuseum.org

NYC Municipal Archives at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) preserves and provides public access to historical records and information about New York City government. Its collections date from 1645 to the present. Records include official records, manuscripts, still and moving images, vital records, maps, blueprints, and sound recordings. http://www.nyc.gov/records

Poets House, a national poetry library and poetry museum, offers something for everyone in the wide and varied tradition of verse. Visitors can peruse our 70,000-volume poetry library and view exhibitions that focus on the physical and visual expression of poetry. View archival materials from Poets House’s history, including handwritten correspondence from legendary poets and writers. We will be offering free book giveaways and various family-friendly activities emphasizing the similarities between libraries, museums, and poetry, of course. poetshouse.org.

The Skyscraper Museum, located in the world’s first, and foremost vertical metropolis, celebrates New York City’s rich architectural heritage and examines the historical forces and individuals that have shaped its successive skylines. Visit the museum and join the Curator’s Tour, with founding director Carol Willis, of the special exhibition “Housing Density” at 5 p.m. skyscraper.org

South Street Seaport Museum is dedicated to telling the story of “Where New York Begins,” and the rise of New York as a port city and its critical role in the development of the United States. The museum uses its historic buildings and ships to provide interactive exhibits, education, and unique visitor experiences. Visit the exhibit, “Millions: Migrants and Millionaires Aboard the Great Liners, 1900–1914,” in the main museum building at 12 Fulton Street. On Pier 16, there will be open tours of the 19th-century sailing ship Wavertree and hourly tours of the lightship Ambrose (limited availability; registration on-site). For Night at the Museums exclusively, Bowne & Co., located at 209-211 Water Street, will highlight selected examples that show the breadth and brilliance of 19th-century letterpress printing, as well as demonstrate with equipment not regularly on public view. southstreetseaportmuseum.org

