New York State is rolling out a new multi-year effort to explore and share the state’s early Black history as two major anniversaries approach.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced new research, exhibits, and educational resources under its Enslavement to Freedom: 1627-1827-2027 initiative, which examines slavery and the transition to freedom in early New York.
The work leads up to 2027, which marks 200 years since the end of legalized slavery in New York and 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the former New Netherland colony. State officials said the initiative will provide deeper context for later movements such as abolition and the Underground Railroad.
OPRHP is partnering with agencies and organizations across the state to develop exhibits, public programs, classroom materials, and traveling displays. Some of those traveling banner exhibitions will be available for nonprofit and educational organizations to host in their own communities.
Acting Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser said the initiative is shaping how history is interpreted at state parks and historic sites while also expanding access beyond those locations. She said the goal is to offer reliable, engaging Black history resources that encourage learning for people of all ages.
To mark Black History Month, two new traveling banner exhibitions will debut this February at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The exhibits focus on the lives and labor of enslaved and free Black New Yorkers during the Revolutionary era and earlier colonial periods.
The state is also continuing to expand educational materials online and in print. One resource explores how enslaved people produced wheat in early New York, which was then sold to support sugar plantations in the Caribbean. The material includes classroom activities and a companion video designed for students.
OPRHP Interpreter of African American History Lavada Nahon said collaboration with other state agencies and cultural organizations helps bring new research to the public in more meaningful ways. She said combining different perspectives and skills leads to stronger and more accessible historical storytelling.
In 2026, schools and nonprofits can apply to host one or more of four traveling exhibitions that highlight Black experiences in early New York. Officials said the compact displays are designed for libraries, schools, and community spaces.
Additional exhibits, programs, and resources will continue to roll out statewide over the next several years. A full list of events and information on hosting exhibitions is available through New York State Parks.
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