Lower East Side History Project

07/07/2019

The domains "East-Village.com" and "EastVillageTours.com" -- which we've owned since 2003 -- are for sale to the highest bidder/barterer.

Please pass along to any local business which might be interested.

05/06/2019

Our website (leshp.org) and email have been restored.

A special thank you to the hacker who made our lives miserable for four days!

05/05/2019

Our website and email is down for a day or two so if you need to book a tour or contact us, please do so at 347.465.7767 or FB messenger.

04/02/2019

Bagel Talk Episode 6- Eric Ferrara LES History Project

LESHP founder on Bagel Talk this morning, discussing the neighborhood, our tours, and his favorite bagel :)

Comedian Joe Pontillo sits down with Eric Ferrara, founder of the LES History Project to discuss his work at the Davidovich Bakery location at the Blue Moon ...

02/13/2019

Lower East Side Welcome Center opens March 9, 2019 - Lower East Side Welcome Center

Happy to announce that the Lower East Side Welcome Center will be officially opening on March 9, 2019 at 397 Grand Street.

This is a collaboration between Lower East Side History Project and LoHo Realty.

Besides offering local information, brochures, etc, we'll have rotating exhibits featuring artifacts from Lower East Side History Project's extensive archives, as well as contributions from many other collections.

Come by and visit! More info here:

https://leswelcome.com/lower-east-side-welcome-center-opens-march-9-2019/

The Lower East Side Welcome Center will officially open on March 9, 2019, at 397 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002.

11/17/2018

Allen Street: The Street Where The Sun Never Shines - Lower East Side History Project

SPECIAL TOUR THIS SUNDAY: "Allen Street: Where the Sun Never Shines"

This special tour, led by veteran guide Robert Brenner, digs deep into the history of one of the most overlooked and historically infamous streets on the Lower East Side.

In 1909, McClure's Magazine called the Lower East Side, "The World's Brothel" -- and Allen Street hosted a thriving red light district. Robert will discuss this and much more. Don't miss it!

Sunday, November 18, 11:00AM ($20pp, RSVP required)

http://www.leshp.org/allen-street-street-sun-never-shines/

Robert Brenner’s (guide for this tour) mother grew up on the Lower East Side, when it was still a Jewish ghetto. Whenever anyone mentioned Allen Street, she would make a face and change the subject. Now he knows why—Allen Street was the center of the Jewish red light district. As Judge Johan J. ...

10/02/2018

Watch LESHP founder Eric Ferrara on PBS's "Metrofocus" tonight discussing The Godfather book and series.

6pm PBS (channel 13) or 7pm WLIW (channel 21) -- or check your local listings outside of the NYC area.

07/23/2018

Home - Lower East Side History Project

Public tours are NOW FREE for active & retired teachers, military, first responders and law enforcement officers...

As a small thank you for your service, we now offer all of our public tours to you for free. To take advantage of this offer, simply notify us in the contact form on the tour pages (there is a special field to check). That's it!

(Unfortunately we must ask that your guests pay regular price of $20pp.)

See our current public tour schedule here: http://www.leshp.org/

Lower East Side History Project (LESHP) is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to researching, documenting and preserving the history of the greater Lower East Side of New York City. We offer public and private WALKING TOURS seven days a week.

03/02/2018

From our friends at the Italian American Museum

We have organized our "Spring Fling" Art Market, in the gallery space of the Italian American Museum, for Sat. March 3rd & Sun. March 4th, 12 - 8pm. Please save the date! Stop by for original, affordable art from me, Sharon Volpe Artwork, Angie Mason Art, Hodaya Louis Art & Fashion, Silk & Sea Designs, Diana Marie T-shirts, Dean Lynch Art & still more to come. Know a talented and reliable artists? They can e-mail me at: [email protected]. I have a bit of room left and I would give more local artists a chance to join our art market!
A presto!

03/02/2018

FREE Mafia Walking Tour tomorrow, Saturday March 3 at 12:00pm.

Just show up: 72 Second Avenue at E. 4th Street, outside Bank of America.

(Feel free to share or tell a friend!)

More info here: http://www.leshp.org/mafia-walking-tour/

01/27/2018

E. 3rd Street

01/26/2018

Children lined up outside of the Tompkins Square Library on E. 10th Street.

01/24/2018

Home - Lower East Side History Project

FLASH SALE: 50% off walking tour tickets thru Friday, January 26! ($10pp, normally $20pp)

1 - Choose a public tour from the schedule at http://leshp.org
2 - Click "pay online"
3 - Use promo code "FLASH" at checkout

Tix can be gifted, or share this post info with anyone you think might be interested!

Lower East Side History Project (LESHP) is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to researching, documenting and preserving the history of the greater Lower East Side of New York City. We offer public and private WALKING TOURS seven days a week.

01/24/2018

Revolt: East Village Activism Literature, 1960s through 1990s

We're happy to announce the release of our new book, "REVOLT: East Village Activism Literature, 1960s-1990s."

Over 300 scanned pages of very rare books and posters from our exclusive archives, like: The Bust Book, F*ck the System, Feminism and the Anarchist Connection, Freespace Magazine, Horse & Goat Peoples Anarchist Communist Affinity Group, and MUCH MORE.

This book is an invaluable snapshot into the revolutionary culture of our neighborhood during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. This literature has not seen the light of day in decades, and very few copies still exist. We did out best to carefully scan each page from the original documents, in their entirety for preservation, for you to enjoy.

Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984123696/

Over 300 pages of rare radical zines, pamphlets and posters, scanned from the archives of Lower East Side History Project.

01/23/2018

Vauxhall Garden, 1803. This public space was bounded by Bowery and Broadway (west to east), and E. 4th Street and 8th Street/Astor Place (south to north).

01/22/2018

Chatham Square, c.1700. A portion of that wall on the upper right hand corner still exists! It is the site of the Shearith Israel cemetery on St. James Street, dating to the 17th century.

01/21/2018

Depression Era soup line on the Lower East Side.

01/21/2018

Rare image of native Lower East Sider, George Burns (left), with his first street-singing group, The Pee Wee Quartet.

01/20/2018

Looking west down Spring Street, from the 10th floor of 195 Bowery.

01/20/2018

"Bowery Types," as the photo was labeled in an early 20th century book.

01/19/2018

Charlie "Lucky" Luciano's WWI registration card, showing his address at 265 E. 10th Street and signature.

01/18/2018

Gotham Saloon at the NW corner of Bowery and E. Houston Street (298 Bowery). The building on the far right still exists! (306 Bowery)

01/17/2018

Distillery at 49 Bowery.

These buildings no longer exist, it is now the site of Confucius Plaza.

01/16/2018

Good morning! View of the courts and Freedom Tower from E. Broadway and Rutgers Street.

01/15/2018

Outside of the Chinese Theater on Doyers Street, now a post office.

01/15/2018

1936, construction of the East River Drive (now FDR Drive)

01/14/2018

Lower East Side History Project's cover photo

01/14/2018

Illustration from a 1952 St. Petersburg Times newspaper, showing gangsters Charlie Luciano, Frank Costello, Tony Accardo, Joe Adonis, Rocco & Charles Fischetti, and Jack Guzik.

01/14/2018

Al Capone WWI registration card, showing his Brooklyn address and occupation as a "paper cutter."

01/12/2018

Interior of F Train earlier this evening.

01/08/2018

East side of the Bowery, below Canal Street, where Confucius Plaza sits now.

01/08/2018

Lower EastSide History Project (@leshpnyc) • Instagram photos and videos

Check out our new Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/leshpnyc/

7 Followers, 13 Following, 3 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Lower EastSide History Project (@leshpnyc)

01/05/2018

New website! Free Walking tours!

Check it out: http://leshp.org

10/19/2017

GIFT CARDS - Lower East Side Walking Tours

We now offer GIFT CARDS for our walking tours!

These electronic gift cards, sent via email, are perfect for holidays, special occasions, thank yous, corporate gifts, or just because! You can even send a personalized note.

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.leshp.org/index.php/gift-cards

Lower East Side, NYC walking tours; Award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Lower East Side history.

10/14/2017

We are happy to announce the launch of a project at the Essex Street Market: 20 history panels are now on display throughout, each featuring one of the many immigrant groups which have called the Lower East Side home.

Lower East Side History Project created the panels with support of the Essex Street Vendors Association and Lower East Side BID.

Here are just a few examples: