Tenement Museum

Tenement Museum We tell the stories of working class tenement residents who moved to New York City from other countries and other parts of the country.
(1952)

Their work helped build the city and nation, and their stories help us understand our history. Visit us on the Lower East Side! We are open every day of the week for building and walking tours. Get your tickets now at tenement.org! If you're interested in promoting your project via our social media network, please email [email protected]. Our community agreement: Be respectful of the memories the Museum preserves.

Our tours at 103 Orchard Street share the stories of families who came to the Lower East Side after World War II seeking...
01/08/2025

Our tours at 103 Orchard Street share the stories of families who came to the Lower East Side after World War II seeking a new chapter in their lives. These contemporary stories of migration and immigration reveal the evolving American identity and explore how people lived alongside one another in a mixed neighborhood like the Lower East Side.

Come experience a tour at the Tenement Museum and explore these stories - link in the bio.

01/04/2025

Celebrate Victoria Confino’s 123rd birthday with us!
Victoria, a teenager who immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1913, shares how birthdays are different in her new home, America. In this interview, "Victoria," our costumed interpreter, tell us how she adapts her traditions from home to life on the Lower East Side and what her birthday celebration might look like in America.

Go back to 1916 and "Meet Victoria" to learn all about her journey to the United States, and her experience as an immigrant in the Lower East Side in 97 Orchard Street.
Link: https://www.tenement.org/tour/meet-victoria/?tour_date=2025-01-04

Special thank you to educator and costumed interpreter, Caitlin D. for sharing Victoria's story

01/03/2025

Victoria Confino, a teenager who immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1913. Today would have been Victoria’s 123rd birthday. In this interview, "Victoria," our costumed interpreter, reflects on how birthdays were celebrated during her childhood In Kastoria before starting her new life in America. Through her stories, discover the family traditions and simple joys that made her birthdays special back home.

Go back to 1916 and "Meet Victoria" to learn all about her journey to the United States, and her experience as an immigrant in the Lower East Side in 97 Orchard Street.
Link: https://www.tenement.org/tour/meet-victoria/?tour_date=2025-01-04

Special thank you to educator and costumed interpreter, Sallie B. for sharing Victoria's story.

During this season of giving, we hope you will continue to support our mission to elevate the stories of immigrants, mig...
12/27/2024

During this season of giving, we hope you will continue to support our mission to elevate the stories of immigrants, migrants, and refugees to build a more inclusive and expansive American society.

Your gift will also help us welcome 30,000 K-12 students in the coming year, building to expand learning and broaden understanding of what it means to be American. Your generosity will directly enable our work to build knowledge and empathy and foster community, one visitor and tenement family story at a time.

Show us your support - https://givebutter.com/EOCY2024

Each day, we welcome visitors—including K-12 students from across the country—into the recreated homes of the immigrant,...
12/03/2024

Each day, we welcome visitors—including K-12 students from across the country—into the recreated homes of the immigrant, migrant, and refugee families who called the tenements home from the 1860s to the 1980s. We also invite visitors to share their own personal stories of American migration and cultural identity through our growing Your Story, Our Story national digital archive of over 15,000 stories.

Together, our stories help us explore patterns and differences in our family experiences, learn more about one another, and broaden our understanding of what it means to be American.

This Giving Tuesday, please consider making a gift to the Tenement Museum to celebrate the importance of shared stories in fostering meaningful human connections. With a gift of $1,500 or more, you join the President’s Circle, a community of the Museum’s most passionate and committed supporters who enjoy direct access to leadership, exclusive programs and events, private tours for family and friends, and more.

Show your support by tapping the link below:
https://givebutter.com/where-stories-matter

Join us for an intimate evening of author readings and conversations in the Tenement Museum’s recreated apartments. New ...
11/22/2024

Join us for an intimate evening of author readings and conversations in the Tenement Museum’s recreated apartments. New York City writers – including Ava Chin, Vivian Gornick, Suketu Mehta, Esmeralda Santiago, Safiya Sinclair, and Qian Julie Wang – will read excerpts of their work and share how the Museum’s stories can inspire and deepen the experience of reading and writing about immigration and migration. Following the readings, you’ll join the authors for a reception and book signing in the Museum’s Visitor Center.
 
Featured writers include:
 
• Vivian Gornick, Fierce Attachments
• Ava Chin, Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming
• Suketu Mehta, This Land is Our Land: An Immigrant’s Manifesto
• Esmeralda Santiago, When I Was Puerto Rican
• Safiya Sinclair, How to Say Babylon
• Qian Julie Wang, Beautiful Country

Link in the bio for more details.

When your shoes say ‘vintage chic’ and the Rogarshevskys' linoleum says ‘me too!’ 😍👞
11/01/2024

When your shoes say ‘vintage chic’ and the Rogarshevskys' linoleum says ‘me too!’ 😍👞

  a living history lesson, linking today’s commuters with the lives of immigrants and migrants who helped shape New York...
10/27/2024

a living history lesson, linking today’s commuters with the lives of immigrants and migrants who helped shape New York into the city we know today. People who came here to live a better life, built the system to help others like them achieve their own American dreams.
New York’s first subway line opened 120 years ago, on October 27th, 1904. It was constructed by about 7,700 laborers, mostly from Ireland and Italy, along with smaller groups of Germans, Greeks, and African Americans. These workers, often earning just $1.50 a day, performed grueling, dangerous work with little more than shovels and picks.

Much of the subway was built by hand, as few large, steam-powered tools were available. Despite the dangers, these laborers persevered, laying the foundation for a system that has helped millions of New Yorkers thrive.

This photo, taken in 1900 below Pearl Street in Lower Manhattan, shows laborers constructing the first subway line. Although the route was carefully planned, some subterranean infrastructure had to be reconfigured or relocated to clear a path for the tunnels, tracks, and stations. In many cases, the sewers were moved deeper underground. The workers in this photograph are either digging out the old sewage system or rebuilding it in a new location.

As we honor the , we are grateful for the invaluable contribution of the immigrants and migrants who built the system that gets us where we need to go every day. Their extraordinary achievement is a testament to both human endurance and innovation.

Like many German-speaking immigrants who settled in Kleindeutchland (today’s Lower East Side) in the mid-19th century, F...
10/15/2024

Like many German-speaking immigrants who settled in Kleindeutchland (today’s Lower East Side) in the mid-19th century, Fredericka Mandelbaum peddled to help support her family. But within a decade she was infamous as an organized crime boss, and also beloved as a neighborhood philanthropist. Her humble building on the corner of Clinton and Rivington–just a few blocks away from 97 Orchard—had secret rooms and safes filled with jewels, gold bars, and purloined goods. She masterminded thefts throughout the country, turning theft into a scalable business.

Join us on October 17th on Youtube Live for a conversation with author Margalit Fox and Tenement President Annie Polland on the riveting story of “Marm” Mandelbaum - Link in the bio.

“The thing that I always think about — and I think it’s relevant to the context of the conversation we’ve been having ar...
10/11/2024

“The thing that I always think about — and I think it’s relevant to the context of the conversation we’ve been having around immigration — is that, but for the arbitrary nature of birth and circumstance, any of us could very easily be in a very different set of positions than we are…I think if that can stay at the forefront of our consciousness, that can provide us with a sense of humility…and then also can give us a clearer sense of empathy and humility and generosity as a result as we move through the world...”
— Clint Smith, best-selling author and staff writer for The Atlantic.
 
Thank you for joining us for our first live event “Rethinking the Statue of Liberty” in partnership with The Cooper Union!

In case you missed it, catch the full recording of the thought-provoking discussion with our featured guests Clint Smith, Anna Deavere Smith, Nancy Foner and Edward Berenson. Link in the bio.

 : The Irish American published weekly newspapers in New York from 1849-1915. The publication always started with serial...
10/09/2024

: The Irish American published weekly newspapers in New York from 1849-1915. The publication always started with serialized literature from Ireland, then continued to European (with a focus on Irish) politics and American politics, as well as neighborhood ads and announcements. Notably, there were also short Gaelic lessons published each week.

Visit the "After the Famine" exhibit and check out the newspaper displayed in Joseph and Bridget Moore's apartment. Link in the bio.

The Tenement Museum is at the Great Hall at Cooper Union! Join us virtually for "Rethinking the Statue of Liberty," a sp...
10/08/2024

The Tenement Museum is at the Great Hall at Cooper Union!

Join us virtually for "Rethinking the Statue of Liberty," a special event featuring readings by actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith. The readings will be followed by a panel discussion with experts, including New York Times bestselling author Clint Smith.

"My grandmother from my mom's side (Juanie Garrido Cladellas) gave me this crown that belonged to her. She was born in S...
10/07/2024

"My grandmother from my mom's side (Juanie Garrido Cladellas) gave me this crown that belonged to her. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1945 and in 1956 when she was 11 years old, she was named Reina Infantil del Carnaval de Juan Ponce de Leon (Junior Queen of the Juan Ponce de Leon Carnival)​.
This is a popular carnival that started in the early 1900s and has been celebrated until now. It is considered one of the oldest carnivals celebrated in Puerto Rico and it happens every year."
- Ana Pavan​

As Rosh Hashanah comes to a close, we reflect on the sweetness of new beginnings and the warmth of tradition.  To celebr...
10/04/2024

As Rosh Hashanah comes to a close, we reflect on the sweetness of new beginnings and the warmth of tradition. To celebrate the year ahead, we recreated a round, braided challah bread—symbolizing the cycle of the year and the renewal it brings. 🥖✨ Inspired by Joan Nathan's cherished recipe, this challah is a perfect way to end the holiday on a high note. ​

Check out the whole process on our blog - https://www.tenement.org/blog/a-new-leaf-getting-in-touch-with-a-fall-tradition/

Meet the Saez-Velez family, whose story highlights how Ramonita Rivera Saez built a home in the Lower East Side during t...
10/01/2024

Meet the Saez-Velez family, whose story highlights how Ramonita Rivera Saez built a home in the Lower East Side during the first significant wave of Puerto Rican migration to New York.​

In 1956, Ramonita, a young mother of two, arrived from Puerto Rico in search of better opportunities for her sons, Andy and Jose. For over 30 years, she worked diligently in the garment industry, while her sons also played key roles in the family’s success. Their journey reflects pivotal moments in American history, from Ramonita's work in the garment industry to Andy's service in the Vietnam War, as well as the broader civil rights movement and the Puerto Rican experience in New York City.​

Join us on October 2nd for a virtual tour of the Saez-Velez exhibit on YouTube Live and discover more about their remarkable story.​
Link: https://www.tenement.org/events/virtual-tenement-tour-the-saez-velez-family-10-2/

“Reflecting on the countless stories my mother shared about her time in school after arriving here made me approach scho...
09/27/2024

“Reflecting on the countless stories my mother shared about her time in school after arriving here made me approach school with an attitude of gratitude rather than dread. My mother has come a long way from the poverty she suffered in Aux Cayes. This family, her assets, her job, her inspiring legacy in the making are the manifestation of her efforts in school...

- Ashley
Mother immigrated from Haiti in 1995

Check out our curated collection of stories about family, tradition, and food that Haitian immigrants have shared with us over the years through our Your Story, Our Story digital storytelling exhibit of over 15,000 personal stories of American migration and cultural identity.

Link in the bio.

Throwback to last week when we welcomed over 60 NYC travel advisors from Fora! We had an amazing time exploring our dive...
09/25/2024

Throwback to last week when we welcomed over 60 NYC travel advisors from Fora! We had an amazing time exploring our diverse tours and uncovering the rich history of the Tenement Museum together!

Join the Tenement Museum today for a special virtual program and concert celebrating the High Holidays with Historian Li...
09/24/2024

Join the Tenement Museum today for a special virtual program and concert celebrating the High Holidays with Historian Lila Corwin Berman and Museum President Annie Polland, followed by a unique concert by Dr. Jeremiah Lockwood

https://ow.ly/Rt1E50TuwB2

Address

103 Orchard Street
New York, NY
10002

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5:30am
Sunday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

(212) 982-8420

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