MetroHike for Schools
MetroHike is thrilled to welcome students of all ages to our walking tours. There's something magical about seeing young minds light up when they discover that history isn't just names and dates in textbooks – it's right here in the buildings we pass every day, the streets we walk on, and the stories of real people who shaped our city. Whether you're in elementary school or high school, you'll experience history coming alive, age appropriately, and in ways that will serve to complement your classroom experiences. MetroHike began with a belief that every corner of our city has a story to tell, and you deserve to hear these stories firsthand.
As the founder of MetroHike, I look forward to sharing this experience with you!
Elie Ernest
School Tours
The New Amsterdam Tour
Welcome to a fascinating journey through Lower Manhattan, where we'll walk in the footsteps of Native Americans, Dutch settlers, African-Americans, British Colonists, and American Revolutionaries. This tour brings to life the incredible story of how a small trading post became the first capital of the United States, and on its way to becoming a world-class city.
Setting the Scene (Starting at Battery Park) We begin where it all started - the southern tip of Manhattan. Here, the Lenni Lenape people fished, hunted, and lived for thousands of years before European ships appeared on the horizon. Standing by the water, we can imagine their canoes navigating these same waters.
Dutch New Amsterdam (Walking through Financial District) In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established New Amsterdam here as a trading post. We'll see:
The original shoreline (marked in the sidewalk) - much shorter than today!
Site of Fort Amsterdam (now Battery Park)
Traces of the wall that gave Wall Street its name
The location of the first African burial ground, remembering that enslaved people built much of early New York (9-12 grades)
The site of the first Jewish synagogue, showing how New York welcomed different faiths
British New York (Around Bowling Green) In 1664, the British seized New Amsterdam without firing a shot. They renamed it New York after the Duke of York. We'll explore:
Bowling Green, where colonists toppled King George III's statue
Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington bid farewell to his officers
Federal Hall, where Washington became the first president
First Capital (Federal Hall) Our tour ends at Federal Hall on Wall Street, where:
The first Congress met
The Bill of Rights was written
George Washington took the oath as first president
New York City briefly served as the nation's capital
Educational Focus by Grade Level:
4th-6th: Emphasis on daily life stories, cultural exchanges, and vivid historical details
7th-9th: Additional focus on trade, government systems, and colonial conflicts
10th-12th: Deeper exploration of political movements, economic systems, and social justice issues
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Meeting Point: Battery Park (near Castle Clinton)
Distance: Approximately 1 mile Note: Tour includes regular stops and discussions
This walking tour makes history come alive by connecting physical locations to the amazing stories of New York's earliest days, helping students understand how our modern city grew from these historic roots.
Cost: $25 per student, faculty & chaperones
Please contact elie@metrohike.com to schedule a school tour
Please note: School Tours can be tailored outside of the structure of this specific tour.