Harlem & The Rise Of Gospel Music Walking Tour
Description
The tour is conducted by a New York City licensed tour guide. We offer this tour in French or English. Our tour guides are native speakers if each languages. In this tour we will visit 9 landmark sites which include the first Black Episcopal, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Baptist churches. We will examine their history, their leaders, and their role in the anti-slavery movement as well as the civil rights movement. This tour also looks at the role of Gospel music in the history of the Black church. We will study its growth from the ring shout (the foundation of all African American music), to the Spirituals, the role of the Protestant hymnals, ending with what became known as Gospel Blues, today simply called Gospel music. The tour ends with a visit to a church service where we will listen to a live Gospel choir, it is not a concert but a real church service.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist church that has faithfully ministered and served our local community for over 200 years.
The address refers to a section of Malcolm X Boulevard (formerly Lenox Avenue) in Harlem, New York City, specifically between 118th and 120th Streets. This area falls within the 10027 zip code. Malcolm X Boulevard runs north-south through Harlem, and the specified section is in the heart of the neighborhood.
Malcolm X Blvd & W 124th St New York, NY 10027 USA. Harlem Renaissance
The iconic, world famous theater where countless musicians, comedians have performed.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd & West 133rd Street, New York, NY, USA
Lenox Ave & West 135th Street, New York, NY, USA Songbird
Our licensed tour guide will share with you the history of this church. "The Freedom Church" was formed in 1796 by African-American members of the predominantly white John Street Methodist Church. Although that church was abolitionist in its orientation, racial segregation was still enforced in other ways. As one A.M.E. Zion historian described it: The colored members were not permitted to come to the sacrament (Holy Communion) until all the white members, even children, had communedhe first church foundation stone was laid in 1819, and the first rector, serving from 1826 to 1840, was the Rev. Peter Williams, Jr., a leading abolitionist and the first African-American Episcopal priest in New York. He was one of three blacks who served on the first executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society
Our license tour guide will share with you the history of this church. Founded in 1808, Abyssinian Baptist Church is one of the oldest African-American Baptist churches in the United States. Housed in a landmark Gothic- and Tudor-style building in Harlem, Abyssinian embraces a rich history of worship, spiritual leadership, social activism and community service.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Reviews(56)
We had booked a visit in French with Kaissa at the end of December. Unfortunately Kaisa could not be our guide that day. She did everything to fit us into another group with a great guide so as not to cancel the tour. Very interesting visit. Thank you.
Merci infiniment Marie-Ève pour cet avis!Je tiens à vous présenter mes meilleurs vœux pour cette nouvelle année 2026! Je suis heureuse que vous ayez pu profiter pleinement de la visite malgré mon absence ce jour-là. J’espère sincèrement avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir et de vous guider personnellement lors d’une prochaine visite à New York. Au plaisir de vous revoir.
Amazing tour and a fantastic guide. We all learnt so much about Harlem and the history of the area. Thank you.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Harlem Gospel Tour! Thank you for your kind words — we’re so glad you learned more about the history and spirit of Harlem. We hope to see you again soon!
Thank you Kaissa for this beautiful visit to the beautiful district of Harlem. We had everything to make it perfect, the sun, your guiding skills and your smile. Thank you🙏🙏
Chers Cecile, Philippe et Theodore, un grand merci pour votre message ! Je suis ravie que la visite vous ait plu. Harlem est un quartier qui vibre d’histoire, de culture et de lumière — et le découvrir avec des visiteurs curieux et enthousiastes comme vous rend tout cela encore plus magique ✨
We toured the area with a wonderful guide, a former teacher. He was a man of many talents—he spoke engagingly, has a beautiful voice and movements. He is music himself. The concert in the church was an unforgettable experience. Moreover, the organizers were constantly in touch with us to ensure we started on time and felt safe. I will be back with my family.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Harlem & The Rise of Gospel Music Walking Tour with our amazing guide, DeShaun. He truly brings Harlem to life — through his voice, his rhythm, and his deep knowledge of the neighborhood’s history and culture. We’re also happy our team’s communication helped make the experience smooth and safe. We’ll be delighted to welcome you and your family again soon! 🙏🎶
What an excellent experience. Not only they were very punctual, but our tour felt like a true history class. Actually, better than that, cause I don't remember having this much fun in school. The ending at church watching the choir singing live was an amazing experience. If you're coming to NY and would like to learn more about black history, this is your chance
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re really happy you enjoyed the Harlem & The Rise of Gospel Music Walking Tour with DeShaun. He has such a great way of sharing Harlem’s history — full of energy, warmth, and insight. We’re glad the Gospel service moved you, and we hope to see you again soon for another walk through this amazing neighborhood! 🎶✨
Kaissa guided us in this beautiful neighborhood and shared the culture with the Gospel is an integral part of it! Thank you again for the good mood and for all this transmission
Merci beaucoup pour votre si beau message 🙏🏾✨ ! Je suis heureuse que vous ayez apprécié la découverte du quartier et l’esprit du Gospel, qui fait tellement partie de l’âme de Harlem. Votre enthousiasme et votre bonne humeur ont rendu la visite encore plus spéciale 🌟. Au plaisir de vous retrouver pour de nouvelles aventures new-yorkaises !
Kaissa is a wonderful guide. We’ve learnt so much and we really loved her way of telling and singing us the story. Thank you, Kaissa et bon vent!
Merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique retour ! 😊 Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié la visite et l’approche de Kaissa. Sa façon interactive de partager l’histoire du gospel rendent chaque expérience unique. C’est un vrai plaisir de savoir que vous avez appris autant pendant la visite. Nous vous souhaitons un excellent reste de séjour à New York et un bon retour en France, en toute sécurité. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une autre découverte !
Kaïssa is the perfect guide for visiting Harlem. She shares with envy and emotion all this African American culture
Merci infiniment pour votre retour si positif ! Kaïssa est en effet notre guide experte en histoire afro-américaine, et elle transmet cette richesse culturelle avec passion et émotion. Nous sommes ravis que cette visite d’Harlem ait été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Nous vous souhaitons un excellent reste de séjour à New York et un bon retour en France, en toute sécurité. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une autre belle découverte !
Great experience. Thank you very much for everything you taught us about the history of blacks, slavery, Harlem, the Gospel...
Merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique retour ! 😊 Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié la visite et l’approche de Kaissa. Sa façon interactive de partager l’histoire du gospel rendent chaque expérience unique. C’est un vrai plaisir de savoir que vous avez appris autant pendant la visite. Nous vous souhaitons un excellent reste de séjour à New York et un bon retour en France, en toute sécurité. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une autre découverte !
Kaissa is an amazing guide tour, she knows about history, art, music and she is also a jazz and golpel singer. She speaks french and english. Really a lovely person.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted you enjoyed your experience with Kaissa — she truly is an amazing guide, with her deep knowledge of history, art, music, and her talent as a singer. We're glad you appreciated her warmth and bilingual skills in French and English. We wish you a wonderful stay in New York City and a safe return to France. It would be a pleasure to host you again in the future!