The BIG WALK is an annual “walking and talking” tour that introduces participants to the hidden and not-so-hidden stories embedded in New York City’s streets, buildings, parks, and neighborhoods. Directed by Professor Louise Harpman, an architect and urban designer, the BIG WALK guides students, faculty, staff, alums, and other urban enthusiasts along a new route each year. During the walk, the group stops at pre-selected checkpoints where experts offer brief commentary about the specific places and related urban topics. Historic sites and cultural institutions, such as the Morris-Jumel Mansion, Dyckman Farmhouse, and the Map Room at the New York Public Library, have welcomed BIG WALK participants for special private viewings during the course of the BIG WALK. The BIG WALK is a signature Gallatin event, and is co-sponsored by the Urban Democracy Lab and the student-run Gallatin Design Collective.