Lower East Side

Stroll the cramped tenement streets of this bustling, bright downtown neighborhood and hear stories
of gangsters, tailors, rabbis and machers who made these blocks the epicenter of the
American Jewish experience for over a century.

Even if your ancestors didn’t hustle here (like ours did, with Bubby’s schmata store,) you’ll still connect with the historical layers
of generational striving for the American dream.

Sights include (exteriors only):

The Eldridge Street Project
The Forward Building
the Essex Street Market
Strauss Square
Beth Madras Hagadol Synagogue

East Broadway Mikvahs and other Jewish-Service buildings
Stanton Street Shul
The Last NYC Public Baths
Orchard street Tenement Buildings
The former Streit’s Matzo Factory building
The Williamsburg Bridge (aka the Jewish Gangplank)
… and more if time permits.

Tour meets at the Visitors Center of the Tenement Museum unless otherwise requested. And what’s a walking tour without a little nosh? Let us know when booking your tour if you wanna nibble on a knish, some pickles or a bialy with a schmear.

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