Lower Manhattan, Ground Zero & 9/11 Museum: Private Walking TourPrivate Tour

Things to know

What makes this tour special

New York is one of America’s oldest cities and most of its rich history over the past four centuries centres around the southern tip of Manhattan. From the legacy of Dutch settlers to the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks in 2001, it remains a place at the forefront of the human story. Go with your own guide on a journey around the city’s historic heart.

On your private tour, you will:

• Learn about New Amsterdam in the Historic District of New York, settled in 1624;
• Take a stroll down Battery Park, one of the best areas to live in New York;
• See the Charging Bull statue and the Fearless Girl statue in Wall Street, New York's Financial District; 
• Walk past Saint Paul’s Chapel in Trinity Church, the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan;
• Hear about the modern financial system, as designed by Alexander Hamilton, and walk past several of the area’s main sites, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank;
• Visit the National 9/11 Memorial in "Ground Zero" and see how the tragic events of 2001 are remembered;
• Finish your tour at Ground Zero with entrance tickets to the 9/11 Museum, where you will be able to explore the museum at your own pace. 

Your tour starts with the unpretentious tale of the early settlers to the city, from a sleepy Dutch trading post to the dazzling rise of the world's busiest financial capital. You will have the pleasure of visiting Stone Street in the Historic District before moving north, just as the settlers did.

As you make your way through Wall Street, you will discover how an 18th-century street bazaar would eventually become a centre for global commerce. Your expert local guide will give you valuable behind-the-scenes insight into some of the world’s most powerful financial institutions, as you walk by New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. Here you will see the spot where George Washington was inaugurated and enjoy the handsome Federal Reserve. There will also be a chance to pop into Trinity Church, which has roots dating back to 1697.

At the National 9/11 Memorial, your guide will share with you the history of the World Trade Center, discuss the tragic events of 9/11, and walk you through the Memorial’s design.

The area formerly known as 'Ground Zero' is now the site of a moving memorial and has indeed become an important historic landmark. Next to it is the rebuilt One World Trade Center, often referred to as Freedom Tower, it stretches 1776 feet above the ground.

Here your knowledgeable guide will tell you of the events leading up to the untimely destruction of the towers, as well as share some of the heart-wrenching stories of the families, survivors and 9/11 heroes. You will also visit St. Paul's Chapel, which miraculously survived the 9/11 attack.

Your tour finishes with entrance tickets to the 9/11 Museum. Your guide will take you to the queue, and give you your timed tickets before departing with you. Once inside the museum, you are free to explore the museum at your own pace.  

What you'll see

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