You’ll explore Revolutionary-era New York as it actually was: a British-controlled city (1776–1783) marked by hidden prisons, destroyed neighborhoods, and quiet acts of resistance. From preserved fragments of the past to the streets where spies operated in plain sight, this experience brings the “Occupied City” to life in a way most visitors never see.Along the way, you’ll uncover the real stories behind the Culper Spy Ring, walk in the footsteps of George Washington, and stand where ordinary places became critical to the fight for independence.

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What You’ll Experience

• Sugar House Prison (15 mins)

Hidden in plain sight, this preserved prison window is one of the only remaining physical traces of Revolutionary-era incarceration in New York City.During British occupation, the Sugar House Prison held American patriots under brutal conditions. Standing here, you’ll step into a rarely seen part of the story—the reality of imprisonment in the “Occupied City.”

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• Liberty, Protest & the Declaration (15 mins)

At City Hall Park, we explore the site of the Liberty Poles—symbols of resistance that repeatedly clashed with British authority.This is also where George Washington had the Declaration of Independence read aloud to New Yorkers in 1776, transforming words on paper into a public act of defiance.

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• St. Paul’s Chapel & Trinity Church (30 mins)

These two historic churches tell the story of destruction—and survival.You’ll learn how the Great Fire of 1776 reshaped Lower Manhattan, why some structures were lost while others endured, and how these sites functioned before, during, and after the Revolution.  Their survival isn’t just architectural—it’s historical.

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• Federal Hall: Before & After (15 mins)

Few places capture the full arc of American history like Federal Hall.Once British City Hall, later the first U.S. Capitol, and now a national monument—this site sits at the intersection of empire and independence.Standing here, you’ll see how quickly power shifted—and how New York became central to a new nation.

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• Evacuation Plaza & Fort George (15 mins)

This is where British control ended.At Evacuation Day in 1783, American forces reclaimed the city and raised the first U.S. flag after years of occupation. We’ll explore the site of Fort George and the moment that marked the transition from British stronghold to American city.

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• Fraunces Tavern & Hercules Mulligan (30 mins)

At Fraunces Tavern, the Revolution becomes personal.This is where George Washington delivered his emotional farewell to his officers—and just steps away from where Hercules Mulligan operated as a tailor-turned-spy.Here, you’ll connect the worlds of espionage, leadership, and the human side of the Revolution.

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• Governor’s Island (45 mins)

We finish with a ferry ride to Governors Island—one of the most strategic military locations of the war.From the water, you’ll reimagine the Battle of Brooklyn and the fight for control of New York Harbor. Standing on the island, the geography of the Revolution comes into focus in a way that’s impossible to grasp from land alone.

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Why This Tour Is DifferentThis experience is built around context, not just chronology.You won’t just hear what happened—you’ll understand:

• how New York functioned as an occupied city
• how espionage networks operated in real time
• how physical locations shaped the course of the war

It’s not a scripted lecture.It’s about seeing the city as it was—and realizing how much of that story is still right in front of you.

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Tour DetailsDuration: ~2.5–3 hours
Location: Lower Manhattan + Governor’s Island
Includes: Ferry to Governor’s Island 
Walking Level: Easy to moderate, bathroom break at the midway point (about 1.25 hours in) and again at Governor's Island

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