Central Park Hidden Heroes Guided Tour

Central Park is famously human-made—so who are the humans who made it? Go beyond the well-known names of Olmsted and Vaux in this special tour that shines a light on the unsung heroes of Central Park’s creation, present-day care, and ongoing restoration.
Thousands of people, most of them ordinary New Yorkers, took part in the creation of Central Park. We thank the laborers, gardeners, and artisans, immigrants and local-born alike, for the gift of this beautiful and unique greenspace in the middle of Manhattan. This tour tells the stories of and pays tribute to those who worked to create the Park alongside designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

Conservancy guides will take you from past to present as they reveal how the history of the Park’s construction is hidden within its landscapes today.

Meeting Point

Doris C. Freedman Plaza

Grand Army Plaza &, 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA

Your guide will be wearing a green coat or shirt with the name of our company.

What's included:

• Use of audio equipment

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Doris C. Freedman Plaza

Fifth Avenue and 60th Street, Southeast corner of Central Park, New York City, 10021, New York

Your guide will meet you at Doris C. Freedman Plaza to begin the tour!

5 minutes

The Pond

The Pond, New York, NY 10019, USA

Take in the beauty of the Pond and Gapstow Bridge.

10 minutes

Inscope Arch

New York, NY 10019, USA

Learn about how laborers transformed the landscape to create Central Park.

10 minutes

The Arsenal

830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

Pass by a building that predates Central Park, and served as the location of clashes between workers and management in the early days of the Park's construction

Pass by without stopping

Central Park Zoo

East 64th Street, 5th Avenue, New York City, 10021, New York

Learn about the construction of the Zoo during the Great Depression.

Pass by without stopping

Denesmouth Arch

65- 2 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

Explore the important role played by bridges, archways, and traverse roads in keeping the Park moving,

10 minutes

Billy Johnson Playground

East 67th Street, , New York City, 10022, New York

Learn about the Park's playgrounds: a relatively new addition to the Park's design!

10 minutes

Sheep Meadow

1802 65th St, New York City, 11204-3812, New York

Take in the stunning city views and learn about Central Park Conservancy's role in caring for the Park.

10 minutes