Van Cortlandt Park was a warzone . . . literally. During the American Revolution, the land that would become the park was caught between enemy lines as were the people that lived there. This walking tour and hike of the area in and around Van Cortlandt Park tells the story of the soldiers, generals, and battles but also the story of how local residents got through the most violent and dramatic 8 years in the history of The Bronx.
The first half of the tour is walk through the Van Cortlandt House Museum and surrounding park (about 1 mile). The second half is for anyone interested in continuing on a true hike: we will explore the area around the park to visit little-known places that played in a role in the Revolution (an additional 1.5 miles).The tour begins at the flag pole in front of Van Cortlandt House Museum. The first half ends at the Van Cortlandt family burial vault. You can decide from there if you would like to continue on the hike.
The tour will be led by Nick Dembowski (Kingsbridge Historical Society President) and Margaret Holmes (Van Cortlandt House Museum Director).
Admission is FREE. Registration is required. Walk-ups may not be accomodated due to space limitations.
This event is sponsored by Van Cortlandt House Museum and the Kingsbridge Historical Society.
The Kingsbridge Historical Society’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
