New York City Tour Guide License Practice Exam 2025 - Free Tour Guide License Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer identifies the Algonquin Lenape Indians as the original sellers of Manhattan to the Dutch, which is based on historical accounts from the early 17th century. The Lenape, an indigenous people of the northeastern United States, inhabited the area around present-day New York City before European contact.

In 1626, Peter Minuit, representing the Dutch West India Company, is famously documented as having purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape for goods valued at 60 guilders, often romanticized as the equivalent of $24. This transaction marked a significant moment in colonial history, as it set the stage for the transformation of Manhattan from a native territory into a European settlement.

Understanding the identity of the original sellers is crucial for grasping the early interactions between European settlers and indigenous populations, highlighting the complexities of colonial relationships, land ownership, and cultural exchanges during that era.