NEW!!! Karen Q Virtual Experiences
While we are waiting to resume tours here in NYC you can still experience Karen Q’s unique and engaging teaching style by attending a virtual experience!
The Tea Act of 1773 – Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 7pm ET
Was the Tea Act an attempt to make the Colonies bail out the financially failing East India Company? After the Boston Sons of Liberty destroyed the tea in Boston Harbor events were set in motion that would change the world.
Tickets $6 available at Eventbrite.
PLUS, lots of great stuff to see on our Youtube Channel! Learn American history from someone who loves it!
Mrs Q Live
Join Karen Q’s living history character, Mrs Q, every Thursday at 7 pm ET LIVE! Mrs. Q teaches you all about the American Revolution – a different topic 
each week. Guests are encouraged to interact as if you are visiting in her home.
Streams live on the FaceBook Patriot Tours NYC Page, or via Zoom meeting ID 680 422 5376 PWD: 4mzCM8. Or use this link.
Past episodes are available on Youtube: Mrs. Q’s NYC. Be sure to subscribe to see them when they’re released. You can donate to the Mrs. Q project here.
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History Reenactments
A Brown Bess Musket Demonstration
Karen Q joined up with the 2nd NY in Stony Point, NY for a History Reenactment in October. Here’s a demonstration of the use and care of a real 1762 Brown Bess Musket.
You can see more like this on our Video page.
There is even more to see on our Youtube Channel about the American Revolution in NY.
See samples of our Walking Tours on our Video page.
Revolutionary War Walking Tour
Historic New York City
New York – In 1776 all eyes were on “The Island at the Center of the World”!
Take a walk from the Stamp Act of 1765 through President Washington’s Inauguration in 1789. You’ll experience the spellbinding story of the unbelievable events leading up to the American Revolution. You’ll walk on the same colonial streets where it all happened.
- Hear about the feuding families and political intrigues that pit neighbor against neighbor, patriot against loyalist.
- Listen to stories about real people like John Holt the “Liberty Printer”, Alexander McDougall, leader of the Sons of Liberty, The Wicked Triumverate and the Odious Six
- Learn about NYC’s beginnings and its strategic role in the American Revolution.
- Take a walk through St. Paul’s Chapel, the town’s “Country Church” built in 1766 and still intact today. We’ll also visit some of the graves in the graveyard.
- Stand where George Washington’s army escaped the Battle of Long Island
Sons of Liberty, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, The Culper Spy Ring and the Battle of New York are just some of what you’ll hear about while standing right where the events happened.
Meets at City Hall and takes 2 1/2 hours. You will receive detailed meeting instructions when you buy tickets.
$40/Adult $25/Child
We are not accepting bookings on any tours until NYC reopens. Please call us if you would like to reserve a tentative space!
917-716-4908
Culper Spy Ring Tour
Revolutionary War Spies
The first modern spy ring operated right here in NYC during the American Revolution: The Culper Spy Ring!
Walk through the British occupied city. We’ll follow the story of spymasters Col Benjamin Tallmadge and Maj John Andre as they battle to outwit each other. Who would survive the deadly game of Revolutionary War espionage? And who would not?
- We’ll imagine a city occupied by the British and converted into a military base
- Learn the true story of early spy Nathan Hale, how he was captured and by whom (it’s not what you think!)
- Visit St. Paul’s Chapel and hear about the Holy Ground – the biggest, most notorious red light district in North America
- Travel through colonial streets where we’ll find James Rivington’s print shop and coffeehouse, the tailor shop of Hercules Mulligan, the store run by Culper Jr., Robert Townsend, and more
- Hear the traitorous story of Benedict Arnold and how the spy ring warned General Washington about him
- And what about 355? Who was she?
- Plus, you’ll see pages from the original code book used by Benjamin Tallmadge
Meets at City Hall Park and takes 2 Hours. You will receive detailed meeting instructions when you buy tickets.
$40 Adult/$25 Child
We are not accepting bookings on any tours until NYC reopens. Please call us if you would like to reserve a tentative space!
917-716-4908
Gift Cards available for All Tours!
Hamilton Walking Tour
Hamilton, Burr and the Duel that Changed a Nation
Forget everything you think you know about Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr! Take a stroll through the lives of these two incredible men. We’ll tell you the story NO ONE else can. Who were these men really? You will be stunned at how different the reality is from what we believe today.
- You’ll hear their personal stories in their own words and the words of those who knew them.
- Visit the site of King’s College, The Room Where it Happened, Washington’s Inauguration, The Bank of NY, Trinity Church, St. Paul’s Chapel and the graves of Hamilton and Eliza!
- Listen to a hilarious ballad written about Burr and his secret lover
- Hear the fascinating story of the nation’s first fully educated woman on a tour stop dedicated to the women in their lives.
- Learn about how one of the bitterest elections in American History lead two exceptional, successful men to the famous duel. Who really shot first?
At the end of the tour, you can decide what’s truth and what’s myth. And you might be VERY surprised what you learn!
Meets at City Hall Park and takes 2 1/2 Hours. You will receive detailed meeting instructions when you buy tickets.
$40/Adult $25/Child
We are not accepting bookings on any tours until NYC reopens. Please call us if you would like to reserve a tentative space!
917-716-4908
Karen Quinones
Your guide will be Karen Quinones, historian, author, and cast member of Travel Channel’s Mysteries at the Museum! Karen has been conducting tours of lower Manhattan since 2005 and knows every nook and cranny of the area. She is also a historical reenactor and participates, as Mrs. Q, in NYC area Revolutionary War reenactments. Karen is the author of “Theodosia Burr: Teen Eyewitness to the Founding of the New Nation”, a critically acclaimed Young Adult biography of Aaron Burr’s daughter and available on Amazon, Join Karen for an unforgettable historic experience!
Our Tours Are Different!
Our tours are different from anything else in NYC! We don’t spend a couple of days looking up sites on the internet and writing a script. Instead, we carefully research every time period we cover. We use period documents like newspapers, pamphlets, personal correspondence and broadsides. Then, we pick events that you will find most interesting and that you can relate to. Plus, all of our tours are designed to tell a complete story from start to finish and conducted personally by the researcher.
All tours are limited to 15 customers on weekdays and 20 on weekends. We want to engage with you and create a total historic experience. Plus, we use original period documents on all of our tours to help illustrate the story.
Watch the video below to see how Karen Q builds our unique and amazing tours and what makes them different from all of the others. Then, check out our excellent reviews and book your tour!
Theodosia Burr: Teen Eyewitness to the Founding of the New Nation – by Karen Cherro Quinones
Available NOW! The story of Theodosia Burr, daughter of VP Aaron Burr!
Critically Acclaimed Young Adult biography of Aaron Burr’s daughter, Theodosia Burr, and her life in 1790s New York City. Written for teens but a great addition to any family library. What was it like to live in NYC during the nation’s founding? This is the story of a gifted, talented, young woman and her inspiring achievements.
“The writing is crisp, clear, and engaging. Full-color illustrations add visual appeal. …Burr’s prominence as an educated, modern woman made her a role model for her time. Interesting and accessible way to learn about early U.S. history through a remarkable young woman’s life.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The detailed source notes, bibliography, and further reading make for a well-researched and interesting look at a little-known person and the times in which she lived.” — J. B. Petty, Booklist
Learn all about Theodosia on our Hamilton and Burr walking tour.
Our Awards
Take a Private Tour
Give yourself or a history lover you know a private tour with Karen Q! She’ll answer all of your questions and tailor the story to your interests. An unforgettable experience.
Give a Gift Card
You choose the amount and we’ll send it for you!