AMERICA250
250 Years
One Revolutionary Neighborhood.
Downtown, 1776: Where the Revolution Happened
New York is the city at the heart of the American Revolution, and it all began right here in Lower Manhattan.
Lower Manhattan Spotlights
Looking Back at Downtown’s First Independence Day
Continue Reading
Historical Highlights
From City Hall to The Battery, this tour affords a unique window onto Lower Manhattan and offers visitors an overview of some of the most significant historical sites in all of New York City.
Federal Hall Has the Bible That George Washington Used to Take the Oath of Office
Federal Hall still has George Washington’s inaugural bible, a King James edition printed in London just a decade or two before Washington was sworn in.
Inside the Downtown Tavern Room Where Washington Once Bid Farewell to His Troops
To mark George Washington's birthday, we're remembering his farewell to the troops in the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern.
From Construction Site to National Landmark: How Lower Manhattan’s African Burial Ground Was Saved
The 1991 discovery of one of Manhattan’s most significant historical landmarks began like many other days in the city, with construction crews breaking ground for a new building.
A Whiskey Shot Heard ‘Round the World: How NYC’s Taverns Helped Spur the American Revolution
Colonial taverns played a major role in the American War of Independence.
News
Spies and Whispers: How Top-Secret Spy Rings Helped Win the American Revolution
Instead of relying on force alone to win the war, George Washington turned to espionage.
News
The Women of Revolutionary New York
News
We are the Alliance for Downtown New York. We serve the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District (BID) by supporting economic development, public safety, sanitation, transportation and more. We strive to make Lower Manhattan an exciting, clean and safe place to live, work and play.