LGBTQ Historical Walking Tour NYC: Stonewall to Pride

From the Stonewall Inn to the first Pride March: the ground where it happened

A 75-minute walking tour of New York City's LGBTQ historical sites, starting at Christopher Park and moving through Greenwich Village to the Stonewall Inn, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop site, Gay Street, Julius Bar, Marie's Crisis, and the Gay Liberation Monument. Your guide narrates the history before the Stonewall Uprising, the events of June 28th, 1969, and the rise of Pride. A portion of proceeds supports Heritage of Pride.

Step-by-step itinerary

LGBTQ Historical Walking Tour in NYC

• Meet guide at Christopher Park
• Hear LGBTQ history overview
• Visit The Stonewall Inn
• Learn about Stonewall Uprising
• Stop at Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop site
• Hear about Craig Rodwell and activism
• See Gay Street sign
• Learn history of the sign
• Visit first Pride March start site
• Hear about first Pride March and Rainbow Flag
• Stop at Julius Bar
• Learn about the first Sip In
• Visit Marie's Crisis
• Hear about LGBTQ movement mainstreaming
• See Gay Liberation Monument
• Learn about LGBTQ rights and monument history

The Experience

The tour begins at Christopher Park, where your guide sets the context: the state of LGBTQ life in America and New York City before the uprising. From there you move through the neighborhood's key sites, each one a waypoint in a specific story. At the Stonewall Inn itself, the guide walks through the early morning hours of June 28th, 1969—what happened inside, what followed in the immediate days after. The physical location grounds the account in a way no photograph or video can.

The route then takes in the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop site and its founder Craig Rodwell, whose work connected the uprising to the organized Pride movement that followed. You'll see the Gay Street sign, stand at the location where the first Pride March began, and hear the history of the Rainbow Flag. Julius Bar gets its own stop for the story of the first Sip In—a direct action against bars that refused to serve LGBTQ customers. Marie's Crisis and the Gay Liberation Monument close the arc, showing how the movement evolved and how it is memorialized now.

The tour runs 75 minutes on foot through Greenwich Village. Your guide speaks English and leads groups on a set route, so the pace and stops are the same for everyone. All areas are wheelchair accessible, and the neighborhood's public transit connections mean you don't need a car to get there or move between stops.

What’s included

• Live English-language guide narrating LGBTQ history before the Stonewall Uprising, the events of June 28th, 1969, and the rise of Pride.
• stops at the Stonewall Inn, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop site, Gay Street, Julius Bar, Marie's Crisis, and the Gay Liberation Monument.
• infants 2 years and under are free.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pride Tours NYC

Is this one for you?Start at Christopher Park in Greenwich Village without needing a car—the tour is built for people staying in the neighborhood or arriving by subway. The fixed 75-minute route and live guide mean the stops and pacing are set, so you follow the history as it unfolds geographically rather than assembling it yourself.

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Top questions

What exactly happened at the Stonewall Inn on June 28th, 1969?

The Stonewall Inn was a gay bar in Greenwich Village where police raids were routine. On the early morning of June 28th, 1969, a raid sparked resistance from patrons and people outside—the first time the community fought back collectively rather than dispersing. The uprising lasted days and became the catalyst for the organized Pride movement. Your guide narrates the sequence of events and the immediate aftermath during the stop at the bar itself.

Does the tour visit the actual Stonewall Inn building?

Yes. The Stonewall Inn is one of the main stops on the tour. Your guide narrates the account of what happened there during the early morning hours of June 28th, 1969, and the days that followed.

Who was Craig Rodwell and why does the tour include the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop site?

Craig Rodwell founded the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, which became a gathering place and organizing hub for LGBTQ activists. The tour visits the original site and your guide explains Rodwell's role in bridging the Stonewall Uprising to the modern Pride movement—how the uprising became organized activism.

How long does the walking tour take?

The tour is 75 minutes long and covers multiple sites on foot through Greenwich Village, starting at Christopher Park.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the tour route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.

Where does the money from this tour go?

A portion of all proceeds from the tour are donated to Heritage of Pride, the organization that produces New York City Pride.