In the company of a local historian, we will trace the original trade routes of Lower Manhattan north to the site of Ground Zero, where the 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade stand today. 

Our tour begins with a stroll up Broadway, where we'll stop at the New York Stock Exchange to discuss the significance of the Exchange's founding and its important role as an American institution, including its historic shutdown in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. 

From there, we will continue our journey to St. Paul's Chapel. The oldest church in Manhattan, St. Paul's Georgian exterior, has survived since 1766 and stands as a symbol of Manhattan during the English occupation. After the September 11th attacks, the church became a beacon for thousands of victims, service people, and volunteers. With the guidance of our history expert, we'll view and discuss the extensive memorial that is now housed inside the Chapel and in the surrounding area.

Pivoting from St. Paul's, we'll cross into the revitalized World Trade Center campus. Our historian will guide us through a variety of buildings, parks, and memorials that now stand at Ground Zero. As we explore the new developments, we may enter any one of the World Trade Centers (there are five as of right now!), Oculus, and St. Nicholas Church. All of the new World Trade buildings were commissioned and designed by architects from across the globe and house important global financial institutions and retail spaces. 

We will conclude our tour at the 9/11 Memorial, reflecting upon that tragic day–as part of the historical development of Lower Manhattan and the significance of these spaces in the cultural psyche. After our three hours together, we will have explored areas of New York City which hold heavy histories, not in an attempt to sensationalize the tragic events of September 11th, but rather to explore and contextualize the city and explore the lasting impact of the tragedy.

For visitors who would like to visit the One World Observatory after the tour, please let us know. We can purchase skip-the-line tickets for an independent visit at the end of the tour. Please add them to your order at check-out if you wish to purchase these tickets. Your guide will have the tickets and give them to you at the end of the tour. While the guide will accompany you to the entrance, they will not enter the observatory with you.

For more information about Context tours, we encourage you to visit our FAQ page. 

Book with confidence — See Context's flexible cancellation policy here. 

Our tour guide will meet you in Liberty Park and conclude at the 9/11 Memorial Fountains. Our team will provide details in your confirmation email 24 hours before the tour. 

Yes, the route of this tour includes city streets with sidewalks that are are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Should you opt to purchase entry into One World Observatory, your guide will lead you to the accessible entrance.

Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly experts who can appeal to the learning styles of children. While this tour does cover some heavy moments in history, the tour can be modified to engage families through activities and storytelling sensitively. Please provide us with information about your children when booking the tour, such as favorite school subjects and hobbies. This way, we can match you with the best possible expert.