View the restored apartments of past residents from different time periods.
In the decades after World War II, the Lower East Side became one of New York’s most diverse neighborhoods. Visit the homes of Bella Epstein, whose parents survived the Holocaust, Jose and Andy Velez, whose mother left Puerto Rico for garment work, and the Wong siblings, whose stories of their mother and other garment workers are highlighted in an interactive, recreated Chinatown garment shop.
Explore the Lower East Side and the American Immigrant Experience.
Every building on the Lower East Side tells its own story. On this tour you’ll hear some of those stories and learn about the architects, artists and everyday people who influenced the design and use of this neighborhood’s buildings and shaped the streetscape you see today.[Note: This tour does not enter any buildings.]
Limited Wheelchair Capacity
Call 1-877-97LESTM in advance for wheelchair tickets.
Visit a costumed interpreter playing a past resident of 97 Orchard Street.
Drop in on 14-year-old Victoria Confino, who lived in 97 Orchard Street in 1916, to hear about the immigrant experience in a more intimate setting. Tour her apartment, ask her questions about her life, and get a unique perspective on adjusting to life on the Lower East Side.
Made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Recommended for visitors with low vision.
Made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Recommended for visitors with low vision.
Taste the immigrant foods that helped shape American cuisine.
LEARN MORE >>Share your own family history and join us in telling the story of American immigration.
LEARN MORE >>