Little Syria: Tracing Arab-American History in Lower Manhattan is a walking tour presented by ArteEast, led by historian and New York Narratives founder Asad Dandia. This program explores the history of “Little Syria,” the first neighborhood of Arab immigrants in North America, once centered along Washington Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. Through stories of migration, community, and cultural life, the tour retraces the footsteps of the earliest Arabic-speaking immigrants who established businesses, houses of worship, and literary circles that shaped the foundations of Arab-American history. Participants will learn about the neighborhood’s role as the “Mother Colony” of the Arab diaspora in the United States, including the publication of Kawkab America, the first Arabic-language newspaper in the country, and the presence of writers such as Kahlil Gibran and Ameen Rihani, who contributed to the Pen League.

The walking tour takes place on May 9, 2026 at 11am in Lower Manhattan, beginning in the former Little Syria neighborhood in New York City. Tickets are $40. Presented in collaboration with New York Narratives, the tour offers a deeper understanding of Arab-American history within the broader story of New York City. Please note that accessibility may be limited, as the route includes stairs on a pedestrian footbridge.