If you walk through Washington Street in Manhattan’s Financial District today, you would never know that once upon a time, the area was home to the first Arabic-speaking community in the United States.
Once known as the “Syrian Quarter” in the late-19th century, this area became the Mother Colony from which the Arab American diaspora sprung. It was here that Kawkab America, the first Arabic language newspaper in the US, was printed in 1892. It was here that the linotype machine first began to use Arabic characters, revolutionizing Arabic language journalism all over the world. And it was here where Kahlil Gibran and Ameen Rihani founded the Pen League, a collective of prominent Arab writers and intellectuals.
Today, only three buildings from the era remain, but this tour brings the stories of this neighborhood to life once more.
Accessibility
The walk will mostly be street-level, with one exception where we will climb the steps to the pedestrian overpass that crosses from Washington Street to Greenwich Street. Once we enter Greenwich Street, there will be a bench area for people to sit down on in Elizabeth Berger Plaza. We will then continue our walk for a few more short blocks.
Location Information
RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.
