Two historic sites focused on preserving Black history will receive a combined $1.2 million from New York State.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding, which includes $1 million for the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn and $200,000 for the Eastville Historical Society in Sag Harbor.
“New York State is deeply rooted in rich history, and it is crucial that our students and communities have the opportunity and space to learn about the significant people and movements that formed the society we live in today,” Hochul said. “With this new funding, these two societies will be able to continue to preserve historically significant sites while giving back to and uplifting the communities around it.”
Weeksville Heritage Center, located in Crown Heights, sits on the site of one of the nation’s largest free Black communities before the Civil War. Founded in 1838, Weeksville now operates as a 12,400-square-foot facility focused on arts, crafts, and historical preservation for New York City public school students.
The state will provide $1 million in operational funding to support staff, literacy programs, and daily educational tours. Officials also announced $1 million in capital funding for infrastructure restoration of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses and site maintenance.
Eastville Historical Society preserves the history of Eastville, a historically significant African American, Native American, and European community in Sag Harbor on Long Island. The organization documents local contributions, maintains historic sites, and educates the public about Eastville’s role in American history, including its preservation of the St. David AME Zion Cemetery, one of the oldest African American burial grounds on Long Island.
The state’s $200,000 grant will help renovate the lower level of Eastville’s building into an open, multi-use space for workshops, classes, and visual storage, modeled after the New Hyde Park Roosevelt Library.
Assemblywoman Latrice Walker called the investment in Weeksville “a demonstration of her commitment to the celebration and preservation of African American history.”
Senator Zellnor Myrie said, “Weeksville is one of New York’s cultural treasures. At a moment when Black history is under threat, we need to preserve its legacy more than ever. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for these investments and look forward to broadening Weeksville’s impact and reach.”
State leaders said the funding builds on Hochul’s broader efforts to support institutions that uplift communities of color across New York.
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