Sacred Sites Open House: Seneca Village and its Historic Church Sites (2026)
On Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Central Park Conservancy staff led free tours of Seneca Village, a predominantly Black community that existed along what is now Central Park’s perimeter from West 82nd to 89th Streets.
These tours were part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House weekend. Attendees gained insight into the Seneca Village community, including its three churches, and learned about the events that resulted in the displacement of residents for the construction of a new Park. For the first time, Conservancy staff painted the outlines of the foundations of All Angels’ and African Union churches (in orange) to showcase where they once stood in the landscape. On Sunday, Dr. Elizabeth D. Meade, PhD, gave a special talk, “The Cemeteries of Seneca Village,” exploring burial laws and land use.
If you were unable to make it, we encourage you to register for a Seneca Village tour with Central Park Conservancy guides. Visitors can also explore on their own through “Discover Seneca Village,” an in-Park exhibit of interpretive signs about Seneca Village highlighting sites including churches, homes, and natural features. These signs integrate many years of research conducted by the Institute for the Exploration of Seneca Village History, the Conservancy, and other community partners. For those unable to visit the Park in person, the signage is available for download.
About the Sacred Sites Open House:
The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s annual Sacred Sites Open House welcomes visitors to explore the buildings, histories, cultures, and communities of participating congregations and sites through unique tours and programming. This year’s theme was “Holding Community Memories.”
The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private nonprofit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for over 50 years. Since its founding, the New York Landmarks Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $60 million, which has leveraged more than $900 million in more than 1,300 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. The organization has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals. The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s work has saved more than 1,000 buildings across the City and state, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today—and for future generations.
About Seneca Village and its Historic Church Sites:
Seneca Village was established in 1825, when free Black residents from downtown started purchasing land within what would later become Central Park. By 1855, Seneca Village was home to 225 residents—two-thirds Black and one-third Irish—three churches, and a school. When the City acquired the land for Central Park in 1857, its residents were displaced and forgotten.
Seneca Village’s three churches included:
- African Union Methodist Church, the first church built in the village in 1840 and one of two Black Methodist churches.
- All Angels’ Episcopal Church, which was built in 1849. Its descendant church is now located at 251 West 80th Street.
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church, which purchased land in Seneca Village for burials in 1825 and built a church in 1853. Its descendant church is now located at 140 West 137th Street.
About the Seneca Village Commemoration Project
This event is part of Seneca Village: Toward a Permanent Commemoration, an ongoing program series funded by the Mellon Foundation. The program series will culminate in a permanent commemoration of Seneca Village in Central Park, guided by community input.