The Jay Heritage Center is a non-profit group dedicated to preserving the memory and childhood home of John Jay, a Founding Father, in Rye, New York. From Jay’s birth in 1745, until he enrolled at King’s College at 15, his home in Rye served as the catalyst for his later success in politics and law, notably serving as the first Chief Justice and second Governor of New York. The Jay Heritage Center is also responsible for historic preservation, environmental stewardship, archaeology, archives, and research. Regarded as the centerpiece of the Boston Road Historical District, it joined its other historical locations within the district when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The District would then be elevated to the status of a National Historic Landmark in 1993.
For over 100 years, the African Cemetery in Rye provided a cost-free option for African Americans to receive a proper burial. In 1860, Underhill Halstead, a farmer, and his wife, Elizabeth, transferred the land to the Town of Rye for African American burial plots, free of charge. It would feature 160 different gravestones throughout its time as an active cemetery; many were of veterans who served in the Civil, Spanish American, and both World Wars. Although it mostly comprising single graves, a few families were plotted together. After the last burial in 1964, the cemetery was neglected for the next 20 years. On Wednesday, May 28, 1986, it was rededicated after a two-plus year effort to restore it — the Town of Rye also placed a Westchester County Tricentennial Historic Plaque at the location.
Since its opening in 1974, The Neuberger Museum of Art has worked to make African art an integral part of its collections. Over the years many pieces of art have been added to the collection, but the biggest addition came from a generous donation from the late Lawrence Gussman in 1999. Today, the collection is primarily made up of the arts of central Africa, with over 153 pieces of work for visitors to view and learn about various African cultures.
Created sometime around 1800, Stony Hill Cemetery in Harrison was established to be the burial place of emancipated slaves and their descendants. Most of the people buried within this cemetery were members of a community called “The Hills,” also once known as “Negro Hills”. The community itself was the largest African American Community in Westchester during the time of its existence, with around two hundred members by 1860. Today there are at least two hundred residents of the community buried in the six-acre cemetery, several of whom served in the Civil War.
Following his long career in politics, John Jay retired to a 750 acre estate in Katonah. He moved to the estate in 1801 and lived the remainder of his life there, focusing on children and grandchildren, farming, and his faith. Jay’s descendants continued to live on the property for 150 years, raising fruits, vegetables, herbs, and livestock. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public as a New York State Historic Site.
The Monument to the First Rhode Island Regiment serves as a tribute to the efforts of the historic group of soldiers during the Battle of Pine’s Bridge. Erected in 1982 following support from John H. Harmon, the founder of the Afro-American Cultural Foundation, the monument honors the importance of the regiment to the history of African Americans. The monument was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County in 2004. It is one of the 13 sites to feature on the trail.
Located on Croton Point, the Jack Peterson Memorial commemorates a small but significant military action that took place during the Revolutionary War. On September 21, 1780, John Peterson, an African American soldier known as "Rifle Jack," and Moses Sherwood, a white soldier, prevented a landing party from the British warship HMS Vulture from reaching Croton Point. The following day, American reinforcements bombarded the Vulture, causing it to leave Haverstraw Bay and sail south on the Hudson River toward New York City. Earlier, the Vulture had dropped off Major John Andre, the liaison to Benedict Arnold as he planned his treason, and was waiting in the Hudson for his return. Once the warship left, Andre was forced to travel overland through Westchester County to return to the British lines at New York City. While doing so, he was captured in Tarrytown on September 23. Arnold's treason was revealed, and Andre was hanged as a spy.
Constructed in 1753, the Friends Meeting House of Chappaqua served as a center for worship and business meetings for both men and women, uncommon during a time where gender inequality was the norm. The building is the oldest standing Quaker house located in Westchester County, and resembles a simple farmhouse. The significance of the meeting house stems from the members who met within its walls, and the actions they carried out. The Quakers of Chappaqua were some of the first people to take a stand against slavery in New York.
Located in Sleepy Hollow, New York, Philipsburg Manor once encompassed over 52,000 acres. Owned by the Philipse family through the grant of a royal charter in 1693, this manor was a commercial venture managed by Adolph Philipse, an international merchant who lived in New York City. The land was divided and rented to European tenant farmers. This location was referred to as the Upper Mills and was the industrial heart of the Manor where the farmers brought their grain to the gristmill. Adolph's nephew, Frederick, owned a similar farm located in what is now Yonkers, which was referred to as the Lower Mills. It is important to note that, at one point, the Manor relied on 23 African slaves to run the complex. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Philipse's were one of the wealthiest families in New York and largest slave owners in the Northern colonies. When the American Revolution broke out, the Philipse family took the side of the British. This resulted in the land’s confiscation in 1779 and subsequent departure for America by the Philipse family in 1783. Philipsburg Manor was added as a National Historic Landmark on November 5, 1961. In 2004, it was included as a stop on the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County.
Built in 1865, Foster Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has served the community for more than one hundred and fifteen years. Organized by Amanda and Henry Foster and built by free Blacks, the church served an African American community that separated from John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in NYC after experiencing discrimination. Foster AME was known as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Escaped slaves attempting to reach Canada or deciding to settle locally were provided with food, shelter and assistance.
Villa Lewaro was the home of Madam C. J. Walker, an African American woman who became a millionaire through her empire of hair care products. Walker was born in 1867 to formerly enslaved parents. She was orphaned at age 7, married at 14, had a daughter and was widowed by 20. By 1915 she was the wealthiest Black woman in the country, and a major benefactor of Black schools, charities and organizations such as the NAACP. She hired architect, Verner W. Tandy to design her house. He was a 1909 graduate of Cornell University and New York's first licensed Black architect. Built in one of the country's most fashionable suburban neighborhoods, Walker hoped that the estate would be a beacon of hope for other African Americans.Today, the home is a private residence and is not open to the public.
Built circa 1682 by Frederick Philipse I, the Philipse Manor Hall was the central seat for Philipsburg Manor. Between 1682 and 1758, additions were added to the home by Philipse and his descendants. It currently stands as one of the most notable examples of Early Georgian Colonial architecture in the United States. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
This sculpture commemorates “the First Lady of Jazz,” Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996). Fitzgerald, raised in Yonkers, overcame a difficult childhood to become one of the most recognizable jazz singers. Her impressive vocal range and ability to master the "scat" technique, along with her creativity and perseverance fueled her success in the music industry. She grew up near Harlem, known as the heart of jazz, allowing her to make connections with producers who helped launch her career. She performed from the mid-1930s until the early 90s, recording 200 albums and winning thirteen Grammy awards along the way. She is known for her voice in more than one respect, as she overcame many obstacles from a turbulent childhood and persistent racial discrimination to become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
St. Paul’s Church is one of New York's oldest parishes. The present masonry church replaced the wooden structure built by 1696. Started in 1763, the church's construction was stalled by the congregation’s lack of resources and the turmoil caused by the Revolutionary War. During that conflict the unfinished church was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers by the British Army’s Hessian allies following Battle of Pell’s Point. The church was finally completed in 1788. The church grounds are occupied by an historical cemetery, where as many as 8,000 burials occurred with the first dating from 1704 and continuing through the 21st century. The burials include Hessian soldiers and people of African descent.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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Westchester County has a long history as a home to African American culture. Learn about and explore historical sites, arts, and culture along this driving trail through the county.
