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
The Washington Heights Library
1000 St. Nicholas Avenue
Regina M. Andrews (1901–1993) served as Supervising Librarian at the Washington Heights branch of the New York Public Library from 1949 until her retirement in 1967. In 1938, Andrews broke the color barrier when she became the first African-American to head an NYPL branch. Andrews was also a writer and engaged in the arts during the Harlem Renaissance. During the 1920s, she and W. E. B. Du Bois founded the Krigwa Players, a Black theatre group which performed in the basement of the library.