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AccessibilityUrban Park Rangers: History and Culture
Discover NYC's storied past with our expert Urban Park Rangers as your guide to historical events, people, and communities that have shaped our city and Parks.
Urban Park Rangers: History and Culture Events
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Historic New York: 25 Years of the Salt Marsh Nature Center
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn 
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a walk on the Salt Marsh Nature Trail while highlighting 25 years of stories, photos, memories, milestones and more.
Free!
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Historic New York: Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Discover the history of this Brooklyn landmark that pays tribute to the 11,000 men, women, and children who died on British Prison Ships during the Revolutionary War.
Free!
Historic New York: Orchard Beach
at Section 2 Orchard Beach (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a journey through time and learn the history of Pelham Bay Park’s Orchard Beach!
Free!
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Hart Island Tour (North Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday November 19.
Free!
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Hart Island Tour (South Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday December 10, 2025.
Free!
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Historic Tea Party: Holiday Edition
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Rangers will demonstrate the brewing of natural teas and discuss their historical and cultural relevance on holiday traditions celebrated today! Registration opens December 15
Free!
Historic New York: Andrew Haswell Green
at Entrance - East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk through Central Park as we discuss the legacy of Andrew Haswell Green. Learn about “the Father of Greater New York” and how he influenced our parks
Free!
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Historic New York: The Highbridge Water Tower
at West 174 Street and Amsterdam Avenue (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure. Arrive between 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m, to gain admittance. Registration is not required.
Free!
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Historic New York: Brougham Cottage
at Brougham Cottage
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
he Brougham Cottage is an 18th Century historic house with significant ties to local Staten Island and the rest of New York City.
Free!
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Historic New York: Sylvan Grove Cemetery History and Cleanup
at Victory Boulevard and Alberta Avenue (in Sylvan Grove Cemetery), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers and Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries Staten Island to preserve history by participating in a cleanup of this protected historical cemetery.
Free!
Saturday, January 31, 2026
The World's Fair Adventure Quest
at Unisphere (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers for this exciting orienteering and history scavenger hunt adventure inside Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, site of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Eco-Bricks
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about sustainable architecture around the world. We'll be creating eco-bricks - we invite you to bring clean single-use plastic waste.
Free!
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Historic New York: Military History of Central Park
at Entrance - East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a hike through some historic spots in the North Woods including getting to explore inside the Block House! Discuss the Revolutionary War and others.
Free!
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