Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday announced $1.2 million in state funding for two historical societies preserving and sharing the stories of Black communities in New York. The funding includes $1 million for the Weeksville Historical Center in Brooklyn and $200,000 for the Eastville Historical Society on Long Island.
Weeksville Historical Center, located in Crown Heights, is a 12,400-square-foot facility dedicated to arts, crafts and historical preservation for New York City students. Founded in 1838, Weeksville was one of the few pre-Civil War free Black communities in the United States and remains a nationally recognized landmark.
The new funding will help maintain the historic Hunterfly Road Houses, support staff and daily educational tours, expand literacy and community programs. Operational funds and capital grants will ensure the continued preservation of this historically significant site while allowing the center to increase its educational and cultural impact in the neighborhood.
“New York State is deeply rooted in rich history and it is crucial that our students and communities have the opportunity and space to learn about the significant people and movements that formed the society we live in today,” Hochul said in a statement. “With this new funding, these two societies will be able to continue to preserve historically significant sites while giving back to and uplifting the communities around it.”
The investment is part of a broader state effort to support institutions that uplift communities of color across New York. By providing resources for preservation and public programming, the state aims to ensure that historically significant sites remain accessible for education, cultural programming and community activities.
"Weeksville is one of New York's cultural treasures," said State Senator Zellnor Myrie. "At a moment when Black history is under threat, we need to preserve its legacy more than ever."
