Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side | 2 hours to 3 hours

17 Reviews | New York City
From $59.00 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
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Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Local guide
  • Professional guide
  • Gratuities

Overview

From the Five Points and Mulberry Bend, through the Italian and Jewish immigrant waves, and finally what is today's Chinatown, this tour explores the development of a rustic landscape of lakes and farms into what became the mostly densely overcrowded neighborhood on earth barely 100 years ago.  The incremental step-by-step process of putting the need for adequate housing over the drive for profit to house the immigrant poor, from disease-ridden cellar dwelling in tumble down shanties. to pre-, old- and new-law tenements, this tour uses pictures to show what is no longer there, and finds what continues to stand in the street walls today to tell the immensely rich, tragic and redemptive story of New York's Lower East Side.

Meeting points

Tour starts nearby the sculpture, Triumph of the Human Spirit, at Foley Square

End point

Open in Google Maps

We end overlooking the streets we walked from the upper floor lobby of the Indigo Hotel where we will be able to identify the various eras of tenement laws from a birds-eye perspective.

Itinerary

  • Foley Square

    We begin at the former sites of The Five Points neighborhood and Mulberry Bend, one-time notorious slums in New York City's history. The focus is on the "tenement," the early purpose-built housing for the working class, mostly immigrant poor whose history begins not far from this spot.

    15 minutes

  • Columbus Park

    Jacob Riis and his seminal work, How the Other Half Lives, helps bring to life the past communities that once occupied the site of today's Columbus Park, between Chinatown and the Court District.

    5 minutes

  • Lower East Side (Pass By)

    The heart of the tour is along the blocks of the Lower East Side and the non-stop tenement buildings that proliferated in the Lower East Side from the mid-19th to the early-20th Centuries. Not all tenements were associated with slum communities, though living conditions could be hard. We'll identify different tenements types from different eras, and witness the decades-long process of tenement evolution following advancing laws.

  • Manhattan Bridge (Pass By)

    We will have a stunning view of the Municipal Building and the Woolworth Building East Broadway, one of Chinatowns most vibrant street scenes with hidden-in-plain-sight historic gems.

  • Museum At Eldridge Street (Pass By)

    One of the most beautiful edifices in the city, The Eldridge Street Synagogue begins discussion of the Jewish experience in the Lower East Side, who, like the massive immigrant waves before them, have their own unique story to tell.

  • N/A (Pass By)

    One of the first parks in the neighborhood. It was so crowded on opening day it was standing room only. Here, an array of photos from Jacob Riis' How the Other Half Lives brings the past to life.

  • N/A (Pass By)

    A newspaper that was an institution for the Jewish community.

  • Tenement Museum (Pass By)

    We pass the back of the museum where they replicate tenement life. Outhouses and clothes line help transport one back in time.

  • Williamsburg Bridge (Pass By)

    DeLancey Street was the clothing discount outlet center of the past.

  • N/A (Pass By)

    The Allen Street bath house functioned as such from 1905 until 1975, along with about a dozen in the area. This one lasted the longest and was converted to a church.

  • N/A

    We end the tour on the rooftop of Hotel Indigo. Here we'll be be able to see a bird's eye view of the different tenement types, along with a spectacular view of Midtown, a perfect way to end the tour.

    10 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • wear comfortable walking shoes
  • snacks and water are recommended to revitalize

Free Cancellation

June 10100% refund
June 11No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

17 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    16
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 16 reviews with 5 stars

Rob our tour guide was so...

Published on Dec, 2024

Rob our tour guide was so great!! He was so knowledgeable about all the tenement history. We had an amazing time walking with Rob looking and learning about the buildings surrounding us. I definitely recommend this tour!!

Unique and Fascinating

Published on Nov, 2024

Excellent tour. Our guide was personable, very knowledgable, and made the history come alive with his choice of fascinating stops along the way, use of photos and maps, and stories.

Captivating, interesting, one for the history buffs, one of the best attractions in NYC.

Published on Oct, 2024

Such a fantastic experience! Una, our guide was very engaging and the apartment was restored exactly as it was in 1869. Highly Recommended A+ rating! ⭐️

Full of information! Excellent tour.

Published on Oct, 2024

Absolutely outstanding. We saw such a great variety of Manhattan history and sights…and our guide Rob was phenomenal, We would definitely hope to use him again to see other parts of the city.

Well worth the money!

Published on Sep, 2024

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He was able to answer all questions and made this tour a great experience.

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