Exploring the Murals and Mosaics of Spanish Harlem

From honoring citizens of the neighborhood to showcasing the gorgeous scenery from the tropical islands that so many members of the community left behind, the colorful murals and mosaics of Spanish Harlem reveal so much about the history, culture, and politics of this neighborhood and its residents. But what's the story behind these incredible works of art and subjects they're portraying? It's time to explore the street art of Spanish Harlem and the strong political and social messages of these talented artists.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the murals and mosaics of Spanish Harlem, a group of independent artworks that together tell the collective story of a truly interesting, but often underappreciated, neighborhood of New York City.

Led by licensed New York City tour guide Leigh Hallingby, our on-the-ground tour of this incredible collection of artworks will include:

• A brief history of Spanish Harlem and its people in the past and present
• A walk past dozens of murals and mosaics, along with commentary about the art and the artists
• An examination of how the murals link the struggles of different Latinx people such as Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Mexicans
• The story behind the gifted artists who received commissions from the City of New York as part of initiatives to add more public art to neighborhoods with large Latinx communities
• Exploration of additional themes of cultural celebration, immigration, and physical fitness

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!

**Our experience will conclude at East 100th St. and Lexington Ave.

About Leigh

Leigh is a licensed NYC tour guide who specializes in Harlem, Morningside Heights, and the Upper West Side. She is passionate about exploring all five boroughs and beyond on foot, mostly through organized walking tours. Leigh is retired from a 36-year career as a non-profit librarian in New York City. She loves doing research about the neighborhoods in which she gives tours and sharing the information about them with attendees. Leigh is a feminist, collector, genealogist, and lover of arts, culture, and travel. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Testimonials

"It was a perfect tour! Leigh is a wonderful guide and I had the special treat of exploring Spanish Harlem one-on-one. She is incredibly knowledgeable, and allowed me to capture the feel of this unique neighborhood. I’m so glad that Leigh gave the tour...it was a true adventure!" -Marcie

" Guide was great, the topic was great. Excellent event." -Ronald

"Leigh was an amazing guide and had great energy. I really felt her passion!" -Magdalene

"Variety of the artwork!" -Debra

"Small group size and great content, group discussion" -Ann Marie

"Very knowledgeable and welcoming. Thanks for a great outing with so much history!!" -Bermia

"[I liked] The knowledge of the tour guide" -Lawrence

"Loved getting so much out of the space and time. Within an eight-block radius, we were able to see over 15 different murals and mosaics. Guide provided a lot of history and background for each." -Julissa

"It was highly educational and entertaining! I learned about so many things - politics, culture, art, history. And I got to explore a NYC neighborhood I don't know well." -Patricia

"Uniqueness and openness to new discovery" -Michael

"The guide was friendly and informative, and clearly loves to share knowledge about the area and the art. Thank you!" -Rima

Disclaimer

Event takes place rain or shine.

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours