Revolutionary Streets Workshop

Revolutionary Streets is a three-part, interactive history workshop that uses the street names of Lower Manhattan to explore Patriot and Loyalist figures from the American Revolution. Through maps, debate, and games, students investigate how New York City’s streets reflect power, politics, and historical memory.

In Session 1, students work in small groups to locate & research the histories of Lower Manhattan streets named after Patriot and Loyalist figures, including generals, monarchs, merchants, and activists who played pivotal roles in the struggle for independence.

In Session 2, students present their research and geographic findings to the class, identifying where their assigned streets are located and explaining the historical significance of their namesakes.

In Session 3, students compete in a live version of Geo Safari, using maps to identify street namesakes and determine their political positions: Patriot, Loyalist, mixed allegiance, or neutral.

Historical Background 

Did you know that there are 25 streets in Lower Manhattan named after figures from the Revolutionary War era? To mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Village Preservation is highlighting how New York City was a battaground during what was really our first civil war. During the Revolution, the city was a strategically vital port and remained under British occupation for most of the war. While some New Yorkers supported independence, many remained loyal to the British Crown. The street names of Lower Manhattan preserve this divided past, reflecting British royal influence, Loyalist power, and later Patriot ideals. Together, these names act as historical clues revealing just how contested and complex the city’s revolutionary history truly was.