Tenement Museum in New York

The Tenement Museum in New York tells the history of the city’s many immigrants. It is a nice museum to visit if you already have been to the known museums and want to learn a little more about the melting pot. The Tenement Museum was established in 1988 and restored six apartments back into their original state. It gives visitors a unique look at New York’s history. The enthusiastic guides tour you through different apartments and bring you back in time. You’ll see how the area developed into “Klein Deutschland”, got taken up by eastern Europeans and finally, the Irish community settled in.

Lower East Side

The Tenement Museum, one of the top New York museums, is in the Lower East Side on 97 Orchard Street. It’s located in an apartment complex that was once home to over 7000 immigrants of 20 different nationalities between 1863 and 1935. The inhabitants had all one thing in common: they were faced with huge challenges under extremely poor circumstances. They had to get accustomed to a new identity, work extremely hard for a better future and support their families with very limited funds. Can you imagine a life without gas, running water and electricity? And a toilet in the backyard that you shared with 20 other families?

Tour the Apartments of the Tenement Museum

There are three ways to explore the Tenement Museum:

• Have a look at the apartment on 97 Orchard Street
• Meet the tenants, played by costumed actors
• Book a tour through Lower East Side and discover how the immigrant’s neighbourhood has evolved

Please note: You can only tour the apartments during a guided tour. Often more than one tour starts at the same time, so pay attention you are joining the right group. You aren’t allowed to take photos inside.

Hard Times Tour

This might be one of the most impressive tours the Tenement Museum has to offer. You visit the house of German Jewish Gumpertz family. The man of the house suddenly disappeared during the Panic of 1873, a three-year-long depression and financial crisis that knew many bankruptcies and strikes.

Duration: 1 hour
Recommended age: 12+

Practical Information

Purchased tickets need to be picked up at the museum before the tour. It is advised to be there at least 15 minutes before the tour starts. While you are waiting, the souvenir shop is definitely worth a visit. You can also view an introductory film with a short explanation of how the museum was established and about different tours.

• Location: 103 Orchard Street, corner of Orchard and Delancey Street
• Directions: Closest metro lines are B/D (Grand Street), F (Delancey Street) and J/M/Z (Essex Street). Bus M15 and Hop-on Hop-off buses stop in the corner of Grand and Allen Street just one block away from Orchard Street.
• Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 18:00

You can buy tickets here. On the site, you are able to see how many tickets are still available per tour. This is handy if you need to book for a big group.