Author Neil King Presents his revelatory memoir about a 330-mile walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City

Filmmaker Ken Burns described Neil King’s memoir about his walk from Washington, D.C. to New York City as “a near-perfect book, an exquisitely seen and felt memoir of an American journey.” An unforgettable pilgrimage to the heart of America across some of our oldest common ground, Neil King Jr.’s desire to walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City began as a whim and soon became an obsession. By the spring of 2021, events had intervened that gave his desire greater urgency. His neighborhood still reeled from the January 6th insurrection. Covid lockdowns and a rancorous election had deepened America’s divides. Neil himself bore the imprints of a long battle with cancer. Determined to rediscover what matters in life and to see our national story with new eyes, Neil turned north with a small satchel on his back and one mission in mind: To pay close attention to the land he crossed and the people he met.

What followed is an extraordinary 26-day journey through historic battlefields and cemeteries, over the Mason-Dixon line, past Quaker and Amish farms, along Valley Forge stream beds, atop a New Jersey trash mound, across New York Harbor, and finally, to his ultimate destination: the Ramble, where a tangle of pathways converges in Central Park. The journey travels deep into America’s past and present, uncovering forgotten pockets and overlooked people. At a time of mounting disunity, the trip reveals the profound power of our shared ground.

By turns amusing, inspiring, and sublime, American Ramble offers an exquisite account of personal and national renewal — an indelible study of our country as we’ve never seen it before. Go to neilkingjr.com to learn more.

NOTE: This event is entirely in-person. No virtual tickets are available. If you are having trouble registering, please contact us at culturalevents@barringtonswhitehouse.com or 224-512-4066.