The Tenement Museum is one of my very favorite places to take people in the city. In my opinion, it is a must-see if any of the following applies to you:
- You are, or your ancestors were immigrants to this country
- You are visiting the US
- You read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
- You read All Of A Kind Family
- You read Angela's Ashes
So basically, everyone should visit the Tenement Museum. Also, if you have not read the above 3 books, please do so immediately. Really. Now!
The Tenement Museum is located in the Lower East Side. They have acquired an old tenement house (the multi-family homes where new immigrants often lived) at 97 Orchard St. The tenement house itself is really cool to see, but beyond that, the museum has recreated the living quarters for several immigrant families from various ethnic backgrounds and eras.
Guests walk through a guided tour about what life was like for a specific family in a specific time period. The Tenement Museum has researched real folks who lived at the real 97 Orchard Street. During the tour, you see pictures of the family, learn their story, and see what life would have been like for them. It is really well done and a great experience!
Currently, they have tours that detail the experiences of Irish, Jewish, Italian, and German immigrants. If you are every in NYC, you've got to go! I also really like the little gift shop at the Tenement Museum. They have cool stuff at reasonable (for New York) prices. Great gift items. So, go see the Tenement Museum!
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