Tourism off the beaten path.
Historic Home of Rufus King:
Founding Father, framer of the Constitution, and early voice in the anti-slavery movement
Rufus King (1755 - 1827) was a framer and signer of the United States Constitution, a U.S. Senator, and a passionate antislavery advocate throughout his life. He and his family lived at King Manor over three generations, with a dedication to improving their 160 acres of land and developing it as a successful working farm. Today, King Manor is a historic house museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting King’s legacy and early American life in Jamaica, Queens through annual festivals, family programming, concerts, and workshops.
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K-12 Field Trips
Want to bring your students? They’re more than welcome to visit our historic home and learn about American history while having fun, too!
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Book a Tour
Bring your group to visit our historic house! We’re happy and eager to have you on a tour to learn about the history in the heart of Jamaica, Queens.
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Bring Us to You
Not everyone has time for a visit during their busy school year. So let us bring the King Manor curriculum to your classroom!
Our Mission
King Manor's mission is to interpret antislavery history to teach critical thinking for a healthier democracy.
King Manor Museum stands in the restored home of Rufus King, a Founding Father who spent his career fighting slavery. As a framer and signer of the United States Constitution and New York's first U.S. Senator, King used every platform available to advocate for abolition. His famous 1820 statement captured his unwavering conviction. "1 have yet to learn that one man can make a slave of another."
Today, we honor King's legacy by connecting his antislavery activism to contemporary conversations about equality, human rights, and civic participation. We also aim to amplify the voices of King’s local contemporaries of color who have historically been silenced and whose homes have not been preserved.
Through our programs, exhibitions, and community partnerships, we develop critical thinking skills that help visitors understand how the past shapes our present. We invite you to explore how the fight for freedom and equality shaped our nation’s trajectory and discover your role in writing the next chapter.
Join Our Community
Become an Ambassador by making a monthly gift.
Our Ambassadors are a community of dedicated supporters who believe that Southeast Queens deserves accessible history, arts, culture, and educational opportunities. Monthly giving provides King Manor with reliable support we can count on throughout the year, helping us plan ahead while keeping programs affordable and accessible.
