A Kid’s Guide to Lower Manhattan

We might be biased, but we’d argue there’s no better place to be a kid than Lower Manhattan.
After all, there aren’t many places where you can visit an urban garden to harvest your own snack, build your own fort at a kids-only adventure playground, learn about New York’s indigenous history and set sail on a historic ship all in one day. 

Downtown has an abundance of museums, monuments, bookstores, libraries and other kid-friendly attractions, most within easy walking distance of one another. Whether you’re an educator looking to plan your next class trip or a parent looking to fill these last few weeks of summer, we’ve got you covered with our kid-approved guide to the neighborhood.

Battery Urban Farm

Battery Urban Farm

Tucked away inside the Battery is the Battery Urban Farm, a gorgeous public garden with dozens of rows of edible and non-edible plants. For school-aged students, there are a number of programs that educators can sign up for, including field trips, regular visits throughout the year as part of the student farmer program and school group volunteering opportunities. The farm is also open to the public through November; typical open hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hours may vary based on weather and staff schedules. The farm is located in the Battery, between the Oval and SeaGlass Carousel. 

The Yard — Adventure Playground

This unique adventure playground on Governors Island allows kids and teenagers to build, explore, create and destroy using collected materials. Some of the items available include nails, hammers, saws, paint, tires, wood, fabrics and more, all of which kids can use under the supervision of trained playworkers. The Yard (40 Barry Rd.) has two sections: one for under-5s with caretakers, and another for ages 5 to 19 only (no adults allowed). The Yard is open from 12 to 4 p.m. every weekend through November. Outside of these hours, educators can arrange field trips and in-school programs. The Yard is free, with a suggested $5 donation. 

The 1885 schooner “Pioneer” (photo credit: Richard Bowditch)

South Street Seaport Museum

Give kids a chance for a hands-on history lesson by sailing two of the South Street Seaport Museum’s ships. There’s the 1885 schooner “Pioneer,” where guests of all ages can help the crew raise the sails for a journey around New York Harbor. The museum also offers journeys for participants 10 and older aboard the 1930 tugboat “W.O. Decker,” the last surviving New York-built wooden tugboat. If you prefer to stay on (or at least close to) land, the museum also has plenty of exhibits in its gallery space as well as two other ships docked at Pier 16 that visitors can explore. The South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton St.) is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Educators can arrange for field trips to the South Street Seaport Museum by visiting the website. 

The National Museum of the American Indian

Kids can learn all about the communities who first called New York home at the National Museum of the American Indian (1 Bowling Green). Current exhibitions include “Native New York,” which chronicles the continuing impact that Native nations have on 12 places in New York, and “Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes,” a narrative creation by a Salish artist that features an epic battle between Marvel characters and aliens in New York City. The museum also hosts the imagiNATIONS Activity Center, a hands-on space where children and adults can explore the science behind Native innovations and technologies. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. Reservations are needed for school groups who want to visit the imagiNATIONS Activity Center; more information is available on the website.  

Seaport Storytime at McNally Jackson 

Each Saturday at noon, the Seaport location of McNally Jackson (4 Fulton St.) hosts a free children’s storytime event with Yvonne Brooks. It’s recommended for kids ages 3-8, but all ages are welcome. No RSVP is required. The bookstore also has an in-house wine bar and cafe where you can grab a latte for yourself and a couple of lemonades for the kids.    

African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument 

This national monument provides important context about enslaved and free Africans who lived and worked in colonial New York. The African Burial Ground National Monument (26 Wall St.) has an interactive visitor center, artwork, outdoor memorials, and other educational exhibits for children and adults to learn about one of the most significant archeological finds of the 20th century. Educators are able to book on-site, off-site and virtual presentations about the monument through the website. The monument is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.  

Federal Hall National Memorial

Another important historical landmark located in Lower Manhattan is the Federal Hall National Memorial (26 Wall St.). It’s the site where George Washington took the oath of office as the country’s first president. It also served as home to the first Congress, Supreme Court and Executive Branch offices. Today, visitors of all ages can explore exhibits about George Washington, the Constitution and the federal government. The Federal Hall National Memorial is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entry is free. Teachers can request for a field trip to Federal Hall through the website.

Battery Park City Library 

Who doesn’t love the library? The Battery Park City location of the New York Public Library (175 North End Ave.) has plenty of kid-friendly events including bilingual storytime, open play time, craft classes, musical sing-alongs, and more. Educators can also request a class visit for their students, where librarians will guide students through the programs, resources, events and additional library offerings.

Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust 

This powerful museum educates visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust. The Museum of Jewish Heritage (36 Battery Pl.) has an immersive exhibition designed for visitors aged 9 and up called Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark. It tells the story of the rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust and encourages young visitors to reflect on the dangers of prejudice and consider the connections the event may have to their own lives. The museum also hosts monthly family programming for children to learn about Jewish culture while engaging in arts and crafts; the next event is August 18. Teachers can book class tours and learn about other educational programming, such as school partnerships and curriculum lesson plans, on the museum’s website. 

Castle Clinton National Monument

This national monument located in the Battery was originally built in 1812 to prevent a British invasion; since then, it has continually adapted to New York’s needs and served as an immigration depot, theater space, beer garden, exhibition hall and even an aquarium. Today, it’s where visitors can grab tickets for tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Castle Clinton National Monument is open seven days a week, from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park rangers offer guided tours of the monument daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Teachers can book class visits to the monument through the website. When you’re done at the monument, you can head across the Battery to the SeaGlass Carousel for even more kid-friendly fun. 

main photo: McNally Jackson Books