Battlegrounds of Central Park Walking Tour: From the Revolution to War of 1812

The British invasion of Manhattan didn't stop at Kip's Bay, but continued north into present-day Central Park. For America 250, explore this forgotten battlefield.

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Tour Highlights:

• A Forgotten Revolutionary Battlefield: Visit the site of a little known skirmish that took place on one of the darkest days of the American Revolution
• The Oldest Building in Central Park: Uncover a War of 1812 blockhouse hidden on a densely forested hilltop that most park visitors don't know exists
• A Lost Colonial Tavern: Track down remnants of landmark on what used to be the main road to New England, later the site of a Victorian convent
• Reused Fortifications: Learn about military forts built twice over by two different armies in two different wars
• The Man Who Made New York City: Sit on a bench that memorializes Andrew Haswell Green, the largely forgotten genius who not only shaped Central Park but literally invented the idea of New York City as we know it today

About this Tour:

On September 15, 1776, British forces invaded Manhattan at Kip's Bay and sent the American army into a chaotic retreat northward. Few know what happened next.

The action continued northward. Colonel William Smallwood's elite Maryland troops finally halted the British advance in the rocky passes and high ground of what is now Central Park—buying just enough time to prevent the British from cutting off and destroying what remained of Washington's army.

This tour walks you through the northern end of Central Park above 96th street, tracing the action of that September day while uncovering layers of history most visitors walk past without knowing: stories of colonial roads and taverns, Revolutionary War skirmishing, War of 1812 fortifications, and hidden landmarks tucked into one of the world's most famous parks.

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