McNeil Tours

06/01/2026

I want to give a big thank you to the Montague BID for letting me be part of Open Streets this weekend!

I had the chance to take two fantastic groups around Brooklyn Heights on an absolutely gorgeous day. We explored the neighborhood’s history, talked about some of the people and places that helped shape New York City, and enjoyed one of Brooklyn’s best streets without any cars in sight.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out and walked with me. Great questions, great conversations, and a great reminder of why I love sharing this neighborhood.

Have you attended Montague BID’s Open Streets yet? What was your favorite part?

05/27/2026

How many different lives do you think one NYC building could have?

Castle Clinton has been:
• A military fort
• A concert hall
• NYC’s first immigration station
• The New York Aquarium
• And now the gateway to the Statue of Liberty ferries

Honestly one of the most overlooked buildings in Lower Manhattan.

Have you ever actually stopped inside Castle Clinton or do you usually walk right past it on the way to the ferry? 👀

05/27/2026

Most people walk right past Castle Clinton on their way to the Statue of Liberty ferry without realizing this building has lived multiple lives over the last 200+ years.

It started as a military fort before the War of 1812, later became a theater and entertainment venue, served as New York’s first immigration station before Ellis Island, and even operated as the New York Aquarium.

It also narrowly survived demolition during the Robert Moses era.

One of the most fascinating buildings in Lower Manhattan — and one of my favorite stops to talk about on my Founding New York walking tour.

05/22/2026

Announcing a brand new series “Meet the Guide” where I sit down with NYC tour guides to find out some of the best hidden secrets the city has to offer. In episode 1, I sit down with Suzanne Reisman from Off The Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours to find out what’s the deal with all the rats in the city.

Welcome to the very first episode of Meet the Guide — a new series where I sit down with some of New York City’s best tour guides to talk about the places, s...

05/06/2026

Borough of Churches: A Jane's Walk Through Brooklyn Heights' Historic Churches

Brooklyn Heights is famous for its brownstones and its views, but its most extraordinary architectural treasures may be its churches. This past weekend I led a Jane's Walk past seven of them — seven buildings that together tell the story of 19th-century America through stone, stained glass, and th...

04/24/2026

The most talked-about building in Brooklyn Heights… and the story is wilder than you’d expect 👀

The Hotel Bossert had it all—rooftop views, live music, packed ballrooms… even its own ice machine back in 1909.

Then came the flashing lights at night 👻
(yeah… not ghosts, but still a story)

It hosted one of Brooklyn’s biggest celebrations ever…then sat empty for years…

And now it’s making its comeback.

04/12/2026

3 days. Countless stories. One incredible way to experience the city.

Jane’s Walk is back May 1–3, and it’s one of my favorite weekends of the year—locals leading locals through the streets they love. No scripts, no fluff… just real stories hiding in plain sight.

I’ll be out in Brooklyn Heights all weekend diving into everything from stunning churches to the families who shaped the neighborhood into NYC’s first suburb.

Best part? It’s completely free.

Spots fill up fast—check the link in bio to grab yours and come walk the city with me. 🚶‍♂️

04/09/2026

Before the Brooklyn Bridge, there was the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Learn how a bridge in Ohio helped shape one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks, and changed engineering forever.

Before there was the Brooklyn Bridge everyone knows, there was this “Brooklyn Bridge”. Known as the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, it laid the groundwork for Roebling’s most famous project. Opened in 1867, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and proved that wire cable techno...

03/28/2026

Wall Street isn’t just about stocks and suits 💼
Long before ticker tape and trading floors, this stretch of Lower Manhattan was a literal wall marking the edge of New Amsterdam—and it went on to shape finance, politics, and power in ways we still feel today. From Dutch beginnings to global influence, Wall Street is history layered on history, hiding in plain sight.

03/23/2026

A tiny park with a huge history 🎳🌳
Bowling Green Park is NYC’s oldest public park and once sat just outside the gates of Fort Amsterdam. It’s where colonists famously tore down a statue of King George III after hearing about the Declaration of Independence—turning royal power into revolutionary scrap metal.

Not bad for a park you can cross in about 30 seconds.