Tenement Museum, Immigration museum in Lower East Side, New York, United States
This museum occupies two preserved tenement buildings on Orchard Street and displays restored apartments documenting immigrant life from 1863 to 2011. The rooms are furnished with period pieces and household items that show what daily life was actually like for residents across different eras.
The building was constructed in the 1860s as a tenement for working-class immigrants and housed thousands of families for over 70 years. The museum was established in 1988 after the structure had remained untouched since 1935, preserving its historical condition.
Guided tours reveal how German, Irish, Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican families lived side by side in these apartments, each maintaining their own traditions and languages. The spaces show how different communities shaped the neighborhood's character over generations.
The museum is accessible only through guided tours with limited group sizes that require advance booking. Plan to arrive early or book online in advance, as tours fill up quickly and popular time slots may not be available on the day.
Between 1863 and 1935, the building housed over 15,000 people from approximately 20 different nations, making it a microcosm of American immigration history. This extreme density reveals the crowded conditions most residents of the neighborhood endured daily.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Bowery Ballroom
384 m
New Museum
467 m
Mercury Lounge
450 m
Angel Orensanz Center
446 m
Rockwood Music Hall
410 m
First Roumanian-American congregation
166 m
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol
271 m
The Slipper Room
305 m
Bowery Mission
437 m
Arlene's Grocery
306 m
The Living Room
301 m
Blue Condominium
226 m
Bowery Savings Bank Building
463 m
The National Underground
466 m
Germania Bank Building
423 m
Kehila Kedosha Janina
104 m
Tenement Museum
6 m
Cake Shop NYC
277 m
University Settlement Society of New York
268 m
Pianos
300 m
Rivington House
232 m
FusionArts Museum
337 m
Former Adath Jeshurun of Jassy Synagogue
225 m
Westchester House
403 m
LowLine
270 m
Substation 409
360 m
Sunshine Cinema
484 m
Old Friend Photobooth
193 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes