There are two 19^th century tenements in New York that grant visitors the opportunity to take a tour, allowing them to understand more about the living conditions that many immigrant families had to endure when struggling to make a life for themselves. Examples of jobs available during the turn of the century include factory jobs, construction jobs, digging ditches, making textiles, and making cigars.

This melting pot of people was at one time considered to be the most densely populated area in the world.

Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum is one that allows visitors to step back into time. The Historic Tenement is the museums focus, which is said to have housed more than 7000 immigrants between 1863 and 1935. The immigrants came from nearly 25 different nations, allowing for a great deal of diversity. Once an immigrant was allowed into the United States, they needed to find a place to live, with many living in a cramped one or two room tenement.

The museum celebrates the lives these immigrants lived, the type of work they had to endure, and their overall experience living in the Tenement, all by giving tours in order to share these personal stories.

Available Tours

Tours are still regularly attended by visitors, students and people who are interested in becoming a permanent U.S. citizen. The following is a list of some of the more popular tours available at the Tenement Museum.

• Hard Times Tour: This tour allows visitors to explore the homes of two different immigrant families, giving them just a glimpse of what life was like during turn of the century New York.
• Sweatshop Workers Tour: This tour describes what life was like for garment workers, focusing on their duties, as well as how they balanced work, family and religion.
• Irish Outsiders Tour: This tour takes visitors to see the restored home of Irish immigrants.
• Neighborhood Walking Tour: This tour takes visitors to many forgotten places in New York’s Lower East Side, an area that is said to ultimately define the immigrant experience.
• Food Tours: This tour is one that specifically focuses on the food choices available during this time, including the various types of meals immigrants made to feed their families.
• Special Evening Tours: This tour is only offered on Thursday evenings, and includes special access to exclusive touring options that are not available at any other time.

Jody’s Travel Inc