The Freedom Lots: A Brooklyn Story

Beneath Green-Wood's Freedom Lots lie stories of freedom, faith, and remembrance, a testament to the lives and legacies of Brooklyn's historic Black communities.

Join Talisha Ward, Green-Wood's 2025–2026 History Fellow, as she shares her research on the residents of the Freedom Lots and the communities they called home. She will be joined by a panel of cultural stewards from Friends of Abolitionist Place and the Center for Brooklyn History for a conversation exploring the stories of resilience that have shaped Brooklyn's identity and what it means to preserve and pass on this history for future generations.

Following the discussion, guests will board the trolley for a tour of the Freedom Lots and the gravesite of Elizabeth Gloucester, one of the richest Black women in the United States at the time of her death, who bought and sold real estate, including Remsen House, an upscale boarding house in Brooklyn.

This event is presented as part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy's Sacred Sites Open House, honoring the sacred legacies rooted in this land through collective storytelling, expert dialogue, and a guided tour of historic sites.

Please note that if only 1 ticket shows as available during the purchase process, that is the last ticket available.

Before Purchasing Your Ticket, Please Note:

• Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.

• Where To Go: Check-in takes place at the Green-House (750 Fifth Avenue), near the Main Entrance on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.
• Accessibility & Safety: While most of the program takes place in the ADA-compliant Green-House, it includes a trolley tour to the Freedom Lots. The trolley can accommodate up to two wheelchairs; however, there are some stops where you may get off the trolley that are not wheelchair accessible and may be challenging for those with balance or mobility issues. If you need accommodations for any reason, please contact our staff before reserving tickets at (718)768-7300 or [email protected]. Please wear appropriate footwear.

Photo courtesy of The Green-Wood Collections

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Host or Publisher The Green-Wood Historic Fund