NYC Revolutionary Trail and Echoes of Revolution made possible by our generous supporters, the Leon Levy Foundation, the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Achelis Bodman Foundation, Creative Wales, and Media Cymru.
NYC Revolutionary Trail is New York’s Freedom Trail.
The project began as a digital exhibition — a multimedia walking tour of lower Manhattan, backed in a 75,000-w0rd library with teaching material. Designed by the Gotham Center, at the Graduate Center (CUNY), it is now a smartphone app, sponsored by the Downtown Alliance.
The project expanded into a partnership with the Museum of the City of New York on a 7,000-sq. ft. exhibition opening May 1, 2026.
We are now creating a gamified version of the Trail with augmented reality from the Assassin’s Creed universe, for a more interactive, immersive experience. Echoes of Revolution will be released in May 2026, in collaboration with Ubisoft and Sugar Creative.
Meet the Founders
For interviews, guest talks, or collaboration, please write us here.
Peter-Christian Aigner
Gotham Center Director
& Lead Researcher, Writer, Curator
Ted Knudsen
Project Co-Founder
& Assistant Researcher, Writer, Curator
Reviews
July 17, 2025 - New York Times
“A Revolutionary War Tour of New York”
Historians have put together an app that guides users to significant sites around the city, just in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding.
February 12, 2026 - I❤️ NY
“NYC Revolutionary Trail: Echoes of Revolution to Launch June 2026”
A free immersive walking tour in downtown Manhattan in celebration of America's 250th Anniversary reframes New York as the heart of the American Revolution – set in the Assassin’s Creed® universe
“Augmented Reality Walking Tour Of Revolutionary-Era New York Will Launch This Summer”
February 27, 2026 - Patch
The multimedia 90-minute walking tour in downtown Manhattan reframes New York at the heart of the American Revolution.
February 13, 2026 - New York Family
“NYC Revolutionary Trail Launches June 2026: A Free AR Walking Tour for Families”
If you’ve ever done the Freedom Trail in Boston or walked around Philly hitting the big Revolutionary sites, you know how much easier it is for kids to feel like they’re part of history when they follow a simple route.