As the oldest surviving house in Manhattan, Morris-Jumel Mansion has borne witness to much of New York City’s rich and diverse history. Situated on the border of Sugar Hill and Washington Heights, the museum and neighborhood has been shaped by Black history.
Exploring Black History
in Sugar Hill and Around Morris-Jumel Mansion-
1
Audubon Ballroom
3940 Broadway
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2
Underground Railroad Site
857 Riverside Dr, Southbound
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3
Ralph Ellison’s Grave
Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum, 770 Riverside Dr
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4
Harry Belafonte’s Residence
501 W. 156th St
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5
409 Edgecombe
409 Edgecombe Ave
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6
Jackie Robinson Park
155th St and Edgecombe Avenue
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7
Duke Ellington Residence
935 St. Nicholas Avenue
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8
The Washington Heights Library
1000 St. Nicholas Avenue
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9
Paul Robeson Residence
555 Edgecombe Avenue
- When
- 60–75 minutes
- Where
- 2.5 miles
Public Transportation
Tour Start—Nearest bus stops: M2, M3, M100 at W 166 St/St. Nicholas Ave; M5 at Broadway/W 167 St; M4 at Ft Washington Ave/W 165 St // Nearest train station: 1 A C at 168 St*
Tour End—Nearest bus stops: M2 at Edgecombe Ave/W 160 St; M3, M100, M101 at Amsterdam Ave/W 158 St // Nearest train station: C at 163 St
Note: The 168 St Station 1 and 155th Street C are not ADA-accessible
Harry Belafonte’s Residence
501 W. 156th St
Singer and actor Harry Belafonte, known as the “King of Calypso,” is credited for popularizing the Caribbean style of music in the 1950s and
60s. Belafonte was born in Harlem in 1927 and moved from Jamaica to 501 W. 156th in the 1940s. Belafonte has produced music that spans genres, including folk and blues, and he has starred in a number of films. Belafonte turned 94 in 2021 and currently resides on the Upper West Side. A proposal to name this street after Belafonte was rejected in 2016 due to legislation that honorees must be deceased for three years before a street can be named after them.