Tenement Museum

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells the stories of immigrant families who resided in the historic tenement at 97 Orchard Street between 1863 and 1935.

9 / 10
786
ratings
  • Phone

    (212) 982-8420

  • Website

    tenement.org

  • Instagram

    thetenementmuseum

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    tenementmuseum

  • Facebook

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  • Type

    History Museum

Address

103 Orchard St (at Delancey St) New York , NY 10002 United States

Credit Cards Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi Free

Comments / 151


Keywords:

tours books immigrant life tenement building historic sites museums lively discounts gift shop knowledgeable staff neighborhood city films fish well education apartments bookshop tourism air conditioning
Vivienne Gucwa

One of the top 10 quintessential NYC experiences. Around 7000 families lived in these tenements from the mid 19th - 20th centuries. Amazing tours and bonus: the BEST bookshop in NYC (seriously).

Mike Robinson

The 'Hard Times' guided tour was fantastic. Really great tour guides , incredible true stories of people who lived there. Really helps to understand immigrant's challenges and triumphs.

Ashley Laflin

I went on both the Shop Life and Irish Outsiders tour . Both were interactive and engaging. The guides were knowledgeable and helped the space come to life. Order tickets online as they often sell out!

AFAR Media

The Tenement Museum walks you through history and explores immigration, discrimination, housing and the history of the neighborhood through the stories of actual families that lived in this building. Read more

Andras Serfozo

This is the best experience in Manhatten. Three of us got a lovely guider who show us some flats from the early 1900's, helped to discover their family life and struggle, get the immigrant lifestyle.

Hugh Robertson

Wonderful museum inside an old tenement building , telling the history of New York and the Lower East Side through the lives of migrant families 1865-1935. Great guides, incredible stories.

Valentina Vitols

Wonderful experience at this very well-managed and curated museum . Staff was knowledgeable and kind. A must see when in NYC. Don’t miss it!

Sweta Mohapatra

This is a tour based museum , the website will tell you the duration. Tours can sell out but you can buy online or at the museum . Take the Foods of LES tour when it's warm and bring your appetite!

Christine L

Hard Times tour ???? Book online in advance since this seems to be the most popular one. I don't recommend this tour on a hot summer day though. No A/C. Just small fans circulating the hot air.

Genesis M

Yes the tours are a little pricey , but there is free admission for AAM members! The guides are very informative and I learned so much on the Shop Life tour .

Dave Lepkowski

this was a super awesome museum to learn about immigrant's lives, liberties and pursuits of happiness

Lauren Bastian

You won't be disappointed with any of the tours ! All of them are unique. The guides are passionate and amazing storytellers.

Kimmie Ohh

Learn about the living conditions many immigrants in NYC had to deal with back in the day. Great place to learn about NYC history. They have a great giftshop/bookstore.

Marina Burity

One of my favorite places in NY. A great place to learn more about the lives of immigrants that made the city what it is today. All tours are great, I loved the Hard Times.

The Ritz-Carlton

This National Historic Site was home to approximately 7000 people from 20 nations between 1863 and 1935. Take a tour and learn about the personal stories of some of the early settlers of Manhattan.

Jonathan L.

Not your typical museum where you read plaques of info. Here you're engaged with the storyteller (tour guide ), learning the lives of the different people who lived in these apartments . Check it out.

Precious Suson

very nice place. went for my bf who had a college assignment to do on the place. our tour guide anna was very nice and welcoming. if your really into this stuff id def say this is a place to check out

Ramona Armitage

Really interesting and balanced tour . The guide also gave insight into all different cultural perspectives which was great.

Michelin Travel & Lifestyle

About 7,000 people, mostly immigrants, lived in this five-story building from 1863 to 1935. Tours trace the lives of five typical families. - Green Guide Editor

Oz Lubling

Really interesting and unique museum . An amazing gift/bookstore on the ground level is a must.

Christina Chin

Really cool immersion museum where you get to see how life was. Found it really interesting and wish the tour was longer than an hour. Must schedule tour appt.

Amelie P

Tours are story telling based and focus on difficulties met by immigrants in the 19th century. It was entertaining too but you'll only get to know one floor per tour and each one will cost 25 dollars

Julie Soscia

Amazing tour and insight of immigrant life in NYC. Ask the guides lots of questions, they love it. Be sure to check out the gift store - has lots of really cool books .

Malcolm Chang

Interesting tours in the most old time part of NYC. Plus lots of New York centric books and exhibits , dealing with the immigrant experience

Manuel Portela

If you like to know the story of New Yorkers, you must visit this place. With nice books and tours

Charlottes

One of the more unusual museum experiences in the city . I particularly like the neighborhood walking tour . Learnt so much about my adopted home!

Erik Cintron

Great museum and they seven different tours that are guided by well educated staff . Have to come back...they take you through the lives of people who lived in these buildings 150 years ago untouched

Andrew C

This museum is absolutely amazing... so many rotating exhibits/tours/events, you're bound to find an interesting and relevant one!!!

Urban Oyster

On the Confino tour , descendants of Victoria Confino helped develop the Victoria character, a historical interpretation of the real person you'll meet on the tour , even down to her sense of humor.

Ashley Rose

Very cool look at life for so many LES residents. Book in advance, I did the Shop Life and the interactive bit was really cool.

Christoph K

I went on two tours and both were excellent: Lively , knowledgable tour guides , lots of interesting information, really glad I went along!

DailyCandy

Once home to nearly 7,000 working-class immigrants, the tenement apartment building-turned-museum re-creates immigrant life in the 19th and 20th centuries w/ insights into their personal experiences.

Ting

Tastings at the Tenement on Thursdays is a great way to see the museum and experience the evolution of the neighborhood through your taste buds.

Colleen McGinn

Really interesting way to spend an hour of your weekend! Totally worth the trip, but check ahead of time to see when tours leave.

Luke Mayes

We toured “the shops.” We both felt like the tour was twice as long as it should have been; like they stretched a 45 minute story into 1.5 hours. That said, the concept behind the place is awesome.

Eva

Super interesting! The guides really know what their talking about, the reconstructions are very convincing, and the museum shop is a treat.

Rachel Smith

Shop life your is great tour guides very knowledgable , gift shop is fun but of course everything over priced

Denise H

You need to do a tour to see inside so book in advance to get the time you want and the tour you're interested in.

Untapped Cities

The Tenement Museum is located in an 1863 Italianate tenement on the Lower East Side. Subtle, beautiful, and intricate— this building is brimming with stories. Read more

Marlon

Informative but pricey ... it kind of reminds me of some of the apartments I grew up in NYC, lol. Pre-gentrification.

Gaby Flo

Now visit the prototype of a Lower East Side tenement where many of those immigrants lived. The only way to see the museum is by guided tour , which takes place frequently between 10am and 6pm

Jake Clements

Tours are super interesting and give a vivid sense of how hard life was for residents of the tenements. Would totally recommend!

Silvia Butta Calice

Beautiful museum and guides super prepared! Must see

Kavita Baba

Different tours for different moods. The hard times tour is a great start and the guides are very knowledgeable !

Ryan Patrick

Museum is guided tours only. So make sure you book one on their site in advance of going.

New York Habitat

A great place to gain an understanding of how New York City came to be. The Tenement Museum is an eye opening experience as it takes you through actual families lives of those who lived there.

Anthony Duran

Pretty neat and interesting to see how of our families came through here upon becoming United States Citizens. Just remember where you came from.

Michelin Travel & Lifestyle

Museum guides interpret several generations of immigrant life in a five-story tenement building . Tours last 1hr, are limited to 15 people, and should be booked in advance. No A/C. - Green Guide Editor

Kevin V

A must do! Start with the hard-times visit! Learned and experienced a ton in the renovated old house.

Wdychen NYC

The museum offers great educational talks about the history and story of the neighborhood .

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8.0
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Great for New York themed gifts. Surprisingly expansive selection of books pertaining to Lower East Side culture (focus on immigration/history and food). - Nina LoSchiavo

8.8
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Wow - this could be my new go-to for client lunches. Just great! Nice work, NY Historical Society! - Peggy Maher

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On the Getting By tour, several objects in the Baldizzi apartment are original artifacts used and donated by the family to the museum. Ask your tour guide which ones. - Urban Oyster

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my brother and I spent a few hours here soaking up all the info and history. the self guided tour is really well done, we loved it. be sure not to miss the beautiful courtyard in the back! - Rose Lynn

9.1
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Pastrami, hotdog, fries ... everything is so good here! - Fabiana Ruggiero Pereira

7.1
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Amazing drinks. Love the Rekorderlig ones & friendly staff. - Audrey O

9.2
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This place is very special. Decor is superb. Food is excellent. And don't think about leaving without getting the bread pudding! - Roniel Tessler