The History of Abolition and Anti-Slavery Activism at the Bowne House

The Bowne House (ca. 1661) is the oldest house in Queens and is among the oldest in New York City and New York State. It was built by John Bowne, who emigrated from England to Boston in 1649 and settled in Flushing, Queens, when New York was under Dutch rule. His family prospered in America: the nine generations born and raised in the house produced businessmen, horticulturists, educators and politicians.

Over the course of 300 years, the family left its mark on American culture, participating in events of both regional and national significance -starting with John Bowne’s courageous defense of religious freedom in 1662, an act which inspired the principles later codified in the Bill of Rights -and continuing with subsequent generations’ abolitionist activities and participation in the Underground Railroad.

Bowne House is following CDC recommendations for mask wearing and social distancing.

We are now offering our programs as both in-person field trips and as virtual lessons to accommodate distance learning:

1. In-person field trips to the Bowne House include a guided tour of the home by our team of educators. Students will have the opportunity to explore both the interior and exterior of the site, while engaging with objects, artifacts, documents, and images.
2. Virtual lessons are presented live on the zoom platform by Bowne House educators in accordance with distance learning recommendations. Each program includes images to enhance the presentation. Students will be encouraged to ask and answer questions throughout each lesson.