Harlem, district of New York City, occupying a large part of northern Manhattan. In 1658 it was established as the settlement Nieuw Haarlem, named after Haarlem in the Netherlands. In the 20th century it was the center of the creative literary development called the Harlem Renaissance. Learn more about Harlem.
Ever since the Harlem Renaissance—an early 20th-century boom in music, literature, dance and art—this neighborhood has been synonymous with Black culture. This shows up in cultural institutions, restaurants and many other attractions that populate the area. Explore the past, and savor the present, when you take the A train (and others) uptown.