Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side

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2 to 3 hours (approx.)

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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.

What's Included

Professional guide
Local guide

Gratuities

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Lafayette Street Worth Street
Centre Street, New York, NY 10013, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002, USA

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.

What To Expect

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 • Admission Ticket Free

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 • Admission Ticket Free

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.

Seward Park (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.

Forward Building (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.

Allen Street (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.

Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York, an IHG Hotel

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 • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
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
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 5 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025