These are all detailed in "The African American Heritage Trail," prepared by the African-American Advisory Board. It links together 13 of the more significant sites in a brochure, giving information about each and making them easier to visit.

The trail is the culmination of several years of work by the advisory board and the county's planning and parks departments. Dr. Larry H. Spruill also did significant work on the project, having been recruited to analyze and verify the participation of people of African descent at the proposed sites. Sites, buildings and locations were selected to reflect the actions and experiences of African-Americans dating back to the 17th century.

The announcement about the trail was made at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, one of the sites featured on the trail.

In addition to Philipsburg Manor, sites include Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers; Jay Heritage Center in Rye; John Jay Homestead in Katonah; St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon; the Chappaqua Friends Meeting House; Madam C. J. Walker's Villa Lewaro, a private house in Irvington; Foster Memorial AME Zion Church in Tarrytown; the Monument to the First Rhode Island Regiment in Yorktown; the Jack Peterson Memorial in Croton; the Ella Fitzgerald Statue in Yonkers; the African Cemetery in Rye and the Stoney Hill Cemetery in Harrison.

It does not include the first African-American and the youngest woman to win the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for the best play of the year, Lorraine Hansberry, who is buried in Bethel Cemetery in Croton, about 50 yards from Jack Peterson. Nor does it include any of the sites on the popular Underground Railroad tours in Peekskill.

Waddell Stillman, president of Historic Hudson Valley, which operates Philipsburg Manor, said his organization was honored to have the Sleepy Hollow site included on the trail. Philipsburg Manor tells the story of the 23 enslaved Africans who operated the farm and milling complex from the 1680s through the middle of the 18th century.

Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins predicted that once word gets out, there will be a lot of interest in learning about the African-American experience in Westchester. "This trail will help us share some of the African American communities' unique history and experience," she said. "Of course the sites themselves have been there for years, but it will make such a difference to have them organized and detailed in a way that makes it easy for everyone to visit."

To obtain a copy of the brochure, call the Office of Tourism at (914) 995-8500.