New York City New York City Lower East Side Museums and Galleries

Lower East Side Tenement Museum. This museum, dedicated to the experience of New York’s immigrants in the early 20th century, offers one of the most personal and fascinating approaches to New York City history around. Before it became a museum, this tenement building languished empty and in disrepair for over 50 years. You can only visit it by guided tour, and it’s best to reserve ahead. One tour focuses on the lives of a pair of Depression-era families, one German-Jewish, another Sicilian-Catholic. A second focuses on the hardships of turn-of-the-century garment workers, and a third, led by costumed guides, presents the life of a sephardic Jewish family. One-hour neighborhood walking tours focus on historic buildings throughout the Lower East Side. (108 Orchard St., between Broome and Delancey St. Ù F, J, M, Z to Delancey St./Essex St. ☎212-431-0233, tickets 866-811-4111; www.tenement.org. Visitor center and gift shop open M 11am-5:30pm, Tu-F 11am-6pm, Sa-Su 10:45am-6pm. Tours are limited to 15, and spots fill up quickly. Buy tickets at least 24hr. in advance by phone or online. Limited same-day tickets go on sale when the shop opens. $15, students and seniors $11.)

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