Visiting the Tenement Museum, one of our favorite NYC museums
Updated: August 1, 2026
The Tenement Museum is one of our favorite New York City museum experiences. It’s unlike anything else - not a grand gallery for exhibiting artwork or scientific discoveries, and not a homage to important, history-making people. Instead, this museum depicts the stories of the ordinary immigrants and refugees who helped build the city and the nation.
The Tenement Museum focuses on the real lives of New York’s immigrant communities, spanning a timeframe from about the 1860s through the mid-1900s. These were ordinary working folks who would never have thought their own stories would be told as part of a “museum experience” so many years later. And these history lessons take place in the very buildings where they lived and worked.
The Tenement Museum is ever-changing, and this is one of the things I like most about it. I have made several visits over the years and each time, I have had a different experience.
Because the museum operates as somewhat of a “continuing investigation” and urban archeological expedition, new stories and new artifacts are constantly being discovered, and this results in new tours and new lessons from the past.
Their public outreach is very active, and through their Your Story, Our Story project, their archive of immigrant experience is always growing. They also have an educational Youtube channel and an excellent newsletter.
If you have a bent for local history, I would highly recommend a visit. Like living in New York itself, the Tenement Museum never ceases to be interesting.
| 📍 Location | 103 Orchard Street, corner of Delancey Street, Lower East Side. Every tour starts at the Visitor Center here. |
| 🎟️ Tickets | Apartment and walking tours $30 (same price for seniors and students). Food experiences $55. Members go free on apartment and walking tours. Online orders add a $3 per ticket fee. Book ahead at tenement.org. |
| 🕐 Hours | Fri–Mon: 10am–6pm | Tues–Thurs: 10am–5pm. Access is by guided tour only. |
| ⏳ Tour Length | Most tours run 60 to 90 minutes. Leave 15 minutes between tours if you book two. |
| ⭐ Best For | History lovers, anyone with immigrant family roots, first-timers and repeat visitors alike. |
| 🚇 Getting There | Delancey/Essex St (J, M, Z, F) or Grand St (B, D). No on-site parking. |
| ♿ Accessibility | Wheelchair entrance at 81 Delancey Street. Some historic spaces have stairs, so contact the museum ahead about your needs. |
| ℹ️ Website | tenement.org |
A hallway and staircase inside the Tenement Museum
A little history of the Tenement Museum - what is it?
The Tenement Museum presents its mission statement as “to inspire connections between past and present and to promote an inclusive and expansive American society.”
The Museum was established in 1988, when historian Ruth Abram and social activist Anita Jacobson discovered 97 Orchard Street — a dilapidated tenement building whose upper levels had been abandoned for more than 50 years!
Pro tip: The Lower East Side is currently a hotspot for artisan coffee and historic delis. You can grab a coffee at Ludlow Coffee Supply before your tour and head to Katz's Delicatessen (just a 5-minute walk away, plus possibly a long wait) for a post-tour pastrami sandwich to complete your historic NYC experience."
Abrams and Jacobson purchased the building and uncovered personal belongings and artifacts of the families that lived in the apartments between the 1860s and 1930s.
These items, including toys, library notices, dolls, hairpins, jacks, business cards, high holiday tickets, and more, told the stories of ordinary immigrants whose histories may have been completely forgotten, but who played an important role in shaping the city.
Using these artifacts as touchstones, The Tenement Museum is considered a trailblazer for immersive museum experiences.
It kind of blows my mind a little that any building - dilapidated or not - could stand basically empty in a place as active as New York City for fifty years!!! They say some of the space had been periodically used for storage for some of the shops on the lower levels, but otherwise 97 Orchard had not been inhabited since 1935.
With all the construction cranes that are so familiar as you travel around NYC, I just don’t assume there can possibly be any empty space left, even thirty-some-odd years ago. Just goes to show you how many layers there can be to a place, and how we may be walking right past these layers everyday.
What is it like to visit the Tenement Museum?
There is something very personal about visiting the Tenement Museum. It is all done by small guided group tour, so as not to overly impact the fragile spaces.
All visits begin at the Museum Visitor Center and Shop, at 103 Orchard Street, where you need to check in with your tickets at least 10 minutes before your tour. You can browse the interesting collection of books and gifts as you wait for your tour to be called.
Our guide gave a brief introductory talk before leading us over to the other tenement building, located at 97 Orchard, just a few doors away. The little walk over did give the sort of feeling of “going to drop in on a neighbor”. The guide also offered headsets to the group in case we could not hear her, but we did not find them necessary.
There are a variety of tours to choose from, some are apartment tours and some are neighborhood walking tours, and you will need to book your tickets ahead of time, but more on that later.
| Tour Type | Primary Focus | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment Tour | Interior life of 19th/20th-century families. | Intimate & Immersive | First-timers & History Buffs |
| Neighborhood Walk | Architecture and community evolution. | Active & Educational | Urban Explorers |
| Meet the Residents | Costumed interpreters telling personal stories. | Theatrical & Engaging | Families with Teens |
These historic buildings are, of course, old, but “safe to walk in”. The point of these exhibits is not to change what was there, so be prepared for steep stairways, some narrow passages, and darkish hallways. But don’t worry; the tour guides take good care of you.
Unfortunately, these buildings come from a time period when handicapped accessibility was not considered, so if you have accessibility issues, it is best to contact the museum ahead of time about your specific needs, via email or by calling. They do accommodate wheelchairs, but not everywhere, due to the historic nature of the buildings. But they do endeavor to welcome all visitors. Best to check with them first when planning your visit.
When we were there most recently, the AC was not working, and with it being summer, we definitely got the “real tenement experience”. But electric fans were running, and personal hand fans were available, so honestly, it wasn’t that bad. Especially when you consider the original residents just had to put up with the heat in these not-very-well-ventilated homes! Tenements were certainly not known for being cool!
The tour guides are all very knowledgeable and passionate about the museum and its mission, so they really bring the stories to life and can answer almost any question. Visitors are encouraged to chime in with their own contributions. I think this adds to the uniqueness of every visit. You never know who will be on the tour with you and what they might add to your understanding of the immigrant experience.
I like the attitude of this museum - that they are always learning.
John’s grandmother, who was born at the turn of the 20th century, lived in this neighborhood as a young girl, as many Irish immigrant families did at that time. Countless families have stories and connections to the Lower East Side - and no matter what country they came from, their experiences in the early days of the 20th century here were unitedly similar.
People of different origins lived side by side and depended on each other because the rest of their family and social network was back in the old country, far away. This sentiment was well illustrated on the tour, and the feeling of “neighborhood” is significant.
Our most recent visit introduced us to two families who lived at 97 Orchard, one Italian and one Jewish. We spent time in the recreated homes of the Rogarshevsky family, who were Jewish, and the Baldizzi family, who came from Italy. The museum currently runs this as its "Rogarshevskys and Baldizzis" tour.
Their stories stretch from the early 1900s through the Great Depression. The Rogarshevskys raised six children here while balancing work, family, and their Jewish faith. The Baldizzis got by through the hard years of the 1930s.
Members of both families were interviewed years later, and their recordings play on the tour. Hearing real voices describe growing up in these rooms adds a rich, personal layer to the visit.
Perhaps because I am a city girl, born and bred, I find a kind of romance in these buildings; places that seem to hold a lot of ghosts.
There is a familiarity to the furniture - ornate old dressers, tables, and clunky chairs. Honestly, we may have had some of this old stuff tossed around our house in Jersey City while I was growing up!
Layers of linoleum can be seen on the floors, once advertised as “the carpet you can mop”. Once it is pointed out to you, the carpet-like designs in this old-style flooring is unmistakable.
Other authentic items like photos, toys, dishes, and clothing, all add to the atmosphere of what once was. Many of the items belonged personally to the families being featured.
Something that struck me as amazing from that time period was how little focus there seemed to be on where people slept. Numerous family members squeezed into a single bedroom, or slung two chairs together in the kitchen and called that a bed! Incredible!!
The two chairs on the right were used as a bed.
I’ve previously been on two other of the museum’s tours. The first was several years back, and was specifically about Irish immigrants, which we took John’s late mom to and she thoroughly enjoyed.
The second time I went with a friend on a “girls’ weekend” in the city, and we visited the Schneider’s Saloon location. This was particularly interesting because the saloon life at that period (starting around the Civil War for the Schneider family) was fascinating. (Incidentally, my own dad ran a neighborhood tavern at one point in my life; but that was a very different time than the sort of meeting place these old saloons used to be.) Plus, the curators had recently unearthed many artifacts at that location.
The bottom line is that you can really tailor your visit to your interests and select a tour that is meaningful to you. They even have LES food tours! Private tours are also available.
Tenement Museum logistics: Hours, Getting tickets & How to get there
The Tenement Museum is not just a single place: they own several buildings and also cover the Lower East Side neighborhood with their tours.
But everything begins at the Museum Visitor Center and Shop, which are located at 103 Orchard Street. Arrive at least ten minutes before your tour is scheduled to begin and check in at the desk.
Tickets:
Since tour sizes are limited, it pays to book ahead. Take a look through the museum's website to pick the tour you want and grab your tickets.
Apartment and walking tours are $30 for adults. Seniors and students pay the same $30. Food experiences run $55. Members visit apartment and walking tours for free.
There's no separate senior or student rate, but the museum does offer discounts for teachers, active military, neighborhood residents in the 10002 zip code, and visitors with disabilities. NY teachers get in free on Sundays with a valid ID.
One thing to know: online and phone orders add a $3 per ticket service fee.
Hours:
The Tenement Museum is open Friday through Monday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Tuesday through Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm. Remember, you can only get inside on a guided tour, so book your time slot before you go.
Directions:
The Museum Visitor Center and Shop are located at 103 Orchard Street, on the corner of Orchard St and Delancey Street. This is where every tour begins. Check in at the Visitor’s Desk when you arrive.
A wheelchair-accessible entrance is located on the Delancey St side (the address is 81 Delancey Street)
The Museum does not offer parking, and parking is pretty limited in the area in general, so it’s best to take public transportation.
By Subway: Via B, D lines, take Grand St stop. It’s about a five-block walk from there.
Via J, M, Z, F lines, take Delancey/Essex Street stop and walk about two blocks to Orchard Street.
By Bus: M15 or M14A Select Bus both stop nearby
Looking to visit more unique NYC museums? Check out our post: A Trip to The Met Cloisters: everything you need to know
Where to eat near the Tenement Museum
Exploring the Lower East Side is a journey through the food history of NYC.
A short five-minute walk brings you to Katz's Delicatessen, the 1888 landmark famous for its towering pastrami sandwiches.
For a taste of the neighborhood's Jewish heritage, Russ & Daughters (Est. 1914) remains the gold standard for lox and bagels.
The Pickle Guys carry on the century-old tradition of barrel-cured pickles right on Orchard Street.
If you have a sweet tooth, Economy Candy has been a neighborhood staple since 1937, offering a nostalgic floor-to-ceiling candy experience just three minutes away.
For those who want variety under one roof, the modern Essex Market provides a curated mix of historic vendors and new culinary startups, making it the perfect final stop after your Tenement Museum tour.
A few more thoughts on the Tenement Museum
I would definitely call the Tenement Museum a hidden gem for the visitor and a very New York City experience. The Lower East Side is a culturally rich neighborhood to explore, so do have a look around while you are there!
Although there is plenty of new construction, a good number of the older buildings are still in place, so you never get too far from the history. And while my NYC resident son describes today’s Lower East Side as “where college grads go on dates and sip cocktails”, there are still examples of those early 1900 tenements, slid in among the newer additions, echoing the neighborhood’s solid working class roots.
An interesting example is the circa 1905 bathhouse that still stands in the middle of Allen Street, where it crosses Delancey. This free-standing building is completely abandoned, fenced off and covered with graffiti, taking up what seems like some good real estate. In their heydey, many of the tenement residents had to share bathroom facilities, and bathing could only be done in a kitchen sink or washtub, so community bathhouses were popular. They offered a shower, a towel and soap for a small price.
If you look through all the graffiti, you can still see “Men” and “Women” stamped out over the separate doors.
I’m just totally astonished that such a structure could just be standing there, of no use at all, in the middle of a busy NYC intersection! I do hope the Tenement Museum acquires it one day and adds it to its repertoire.
And though I don’t consider myself trendy, I did enjoy sipping an espresso martini at Beyond the Pale after our day at the museum!
Something that gave me a lot of admiration for the museum was how they buckled down and really were determined to survive during the COVID lockdowns. It was about that time I started receiving their newsletter, having just visited the museum in December of 2019. Even with visitation shut down, greatly reducing their revenue and threatening their very existence, their researchers continued to write the most incredibly interesting stories in that newsletter, and I have to say, it was one of my major distractions during that uncertain time.
Incidentally, if you want to see how the “other half” was living during the early 1900’s, check out the Morgan Library & Museum in midtown, where financier J.P. Morgan established a magnificent space for his collection of books, manuscripts and decorative arts. It’s quite a juxtaposition against those once humble tenements of the Lower East Side. It’s also mildly ironic that the Morgan is also one of my favorite New York Museums - see no agendas here! Just an appreciation of history.
You can read my review of the Morgan Library at The Morgan Library and Museum, a hidden gem in New York City.
One last thought - the word tenement was not even a negative word in the early days; it simply described a building housing multiple dwellings. It was more the J.P. Morgan crowd who made it negative, associating it with the working-class immigrants of the LES, whom they turned their noses up to, and opting to adapt the French word appartement instead. Very continental. But it doesn’t hurt to remember one’s roots.
For more information on the Tenement Museum, visit their website at https://www.tenement.org.
Tenement Museum FAQs
Is the Tenement Museum worth visiting?
Yes, and it's one we keep going back to. It's a small, guided experience rather than a big gallery you wander on your own. If you have any interest in local history or family roots, it's well worth a couple of hours.
How long is a tour at the Tenement Museum?
Most tours run about 60 to 90 minutes. If you want to do two in one day, the museum suggests pairing an apartment tour with a neighborhood walking tour. Leave about 15 minutes between them.
Do you need to book tickets in advance?
It's the safest bet. Groups are kept small to protect the old buildings, so popular tours can sell out. Book your tour and time on the museum's website before your visit.
Can you visit the Tenement Museum without a tour?
Not really. The historic apartments are only open through a guided tour, so you'll need a ticket for a specific tour. The Visitor Center and shop at 103 Orchard are open to anyone.
Which Tenement Museum tour should I pick?
There's no single starter tour, and that's the fun of it. Read the tour descriptions and choose the family or theme that speaks to you. We've picked ours around Irish roots and neighborhood saloon history, and every visit felt different.
About the Authors
|
John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer with 30+ years of professional photography experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
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