Harlem Gospel Wednesday Afternoon Tour

This entertaining and educational tour of the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem begins at the Sheraton New York

Harlem was founded in the second half of 1600 as a Dutch farming community. The settlement grew enormously during the first great wave of migration at the turn of the 19th Century. Between 1880 and 1920, large numbers of immigrants, especially Italians and Jews, arrived at Ellis Island and settled in New York. Remember two dates for the development of Harlem: 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery with an executive order, and the financial crisis of 1904.

African-American real estate entrepreneur Philip Peyton purchased a row of tenements on 133rd Street through his Afro-American Realty Company. Street renting against prejudice to the newly emancipated black population was an enormous success. By 1913, there were over 60,000 African-Americans living in Harlem and more were coming to create the spiritual home of black America.

The narration will go through the Prohibition years, the Harlem Renaissance, the degradation of the 70s, and the recent recovery in the 90s. This afternoon tour will explore the historic district of Sugar Hill, Convent Avenue, Hamilton Grange, and Sylvan Terrace. Also, see the Apollo Theatre, Hotel Theresa on 125th Street, and President Bill Clinton’s office.

Finally, go to a Baptist church to attend a true Gospel Mass. The tour will end at the meeting point around 8:30pm. The tour itinerary can be subject to change due to unexpected traffic and weather conditions.