History

Take a journey back to New York’s early days with a visit to Jamaica Center. Tour the immaculately preserved house of founding father and author of the Constitution, Rufus King. Visit a 350-year old house of worship. Or, step into the roaring 1920s with a stop at one of the city’s best kept secrets – a former movie theater with unrivaled architectural detail.

Rich with monuments of its 350-year history, Jamaica Center invites you to discover its rich past amongst the district’s thriving arts and culture. Here you will find a vast array of striking architecture, museums, galleries and theaters.

To experience a behind-the-scenes look at the historical surrounding Jamaica Center, take a free tour, or request a copy of the Jamaica Center Map & Guide which highlight the tours’ key sights.

Churches & Cemeteries

For nearly 350 years, the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica has worshiped and served in the same community of Jamaica, Queens. Organized in 1662, the first stone church built in 1699, is said to have been used as British prison in Revolutionary times. The present church was originally built on Jamaica Avenue in 1813, and was moved to its current location by mules in 1920.

Founded in 1702, Grace Church served as the official church of the British colonial government by those who split from the Presbyterian Church. The congregation moved to its current location in 1734, and built the Gothic Revival church that stands there today in 1862. Among those buried in the adjacent graveyard is Rufus King, whose house still stands 1 block away. The church offers church services, a soup kitchen, youth programs, music & arts workshops and more.