AFISHA LIFE
New York City
Explore
Travelers recommend
Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side

Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side

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.

City: New York City

Tue 06 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

Tue 06 May

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (175) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (252) Entry Tickets (96) Sporting Events (4) Good for Small Groups (27) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (113) Walking Tours (705) Outdoor Activities (48) Limitied Availability Tours (29) LGBT Friendly Tours (9) Family-friendly Activities (8) Wildlife Activities (6) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (96) Travelers recommend (174) Good for Groups (32) Top Activities (75) Guided Audio Tours (10) Art, Culture & History (406) Attractions to explore (43) Sustainable Tours (1) Limousine Transfers (5) Donut Walking Tour (2) Virtual Experiences (1) Additional fees (7) DSA non-compliant (17)

What's Included

Local guide

Professional guide

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

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.

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.

Lower East Side

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

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

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.

Tenement Museum

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

Williamsburg Bridge

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

Show 4 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (17)

Daydream09537729925

Nov 2019

My friend and loved this tour! The guide is so incredibly knowledgeable, we left having learned a lot. Learning about what it was like to immigrate to NYC is so interesting. This tour is a great complement to the things you learn about at Ellis Island and the Tenement Museum. If you are concerned about this being redundant to those things, it is not!

Response from Host

Nov 2019

Thank you so much for such a great review! You were really great to have on the tour and I hope I see you again--all best wishes, Rob

Patricia H

Oct 2019

We were visiting NYC with friends and found this tour. Rob was a phenomenal resource and we couldn't have enjoyed our experience more! We learned so much about the immigrant history and housing. We would definitely take another tour with Rob. Thanks for a wonderful NYC experience!

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Thank you for making me part of your trip and I thoroughly enjoyed your company. I hope to see you again!

abbeflitter

Oct 2019

Robert was an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide. He brought the immigrant experience to life for us. We’re still talking about the hidden corners of the lower east side - those easily missed - he found for us.