We were meeting the daughter at the Tenement Museum for a tour but she came to escort us there as the subway gets a lot of maintenance done on weekends and the revised timetables put in place, to quote her, ‘ confuse the hell out of tourists’
The Tenement Museum is located at 97 and 103 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighbourhood of Manhattan.
These two historical tenement buildings were home to an estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, between 1863 and 2011. The museum’s aim is to promote tolerance and historical perspective on the immigrant experience.
These days that is probably needed more than ever.
The building at 97 Orchard Street was contracted by Prussian-born immigrant Lukas Glockner in 1863 and was modified several times to conform with the city's developing housing laws. When first constructed, it contained 22 apartments and a basement level saloon. Modifications over the years included the installation of indoor plumbing (cold running water, two toilets per floor), an air shaft, and gas followed by electricity.
In 1935, rather than continuing to modify the building, the landlord evicted the residents, boarded the upper windows, and sealed the upper floors, leaving only the stoop-level and basement storefronts open for business.
No further changes were made until the Lower East Side Tenement Museum became involved with the building in 1988. As such, the building stands as a kind of time capsule, reflecting 19th and early 20th century living conditions and the changing notions of what constitutes acceptable housing.
We did the Hard Times tour which covered two families’ occupation of an apartment from the 1870s to the 1930s.
This was the recreated home of the Gumpertz family, whose primary breadwinner disappeared during the Panic of 1873, and the Baldizzi family, who persevered through the Great Depression.
An interesting ninety minutes and well worth the time.
We weren’t allowed to take pictures so a few have been ‘borrowed’ from the museum web site.
By lunch time the rain had gone and the sky began, thankfully, to clear.
We had booked a One World Observatory: Skip-All-the-Lines Ticket tour and bad weather wouldn’t be good for that.
We arrived at the marvellous World Trade Centre transport hub, and its central space, the $US4billion Oculus at Westfield World Trade Centre.
After some time at the memorial pools we bypassed the long queues, went through strict security and then entered the elevator (lift) for our 30 mph (48kmh) ride up 102 storeys in 47 seconds. On the way up you watch a virtual time-lapse showing how the New York City skyline has changed from the 1500’s to today.
Wow! Check your stomachs in at the door!
There was still some residual mist in the air but the 360°views were still pretty awesome.
I did the circuit a few times, took photos and videos, and we sat for a while with our complimentary drinks and took it all in.
A new NYC icon not to be missed.
Down to earth once more we headed for Tribeca and the Terrior wine bar for huge selection of wine by the glass and Italian tapas.
Then it was onto Bubby’s for good old fashioned American comfort food for dinner (supper).
The Tenement Museum is located at 97 and 103 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighbourhood of Manhattan.
These two historical tenement buildings were home to an estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, between 1863 and 2011. The museum’s aim is to promote tolerance and historical perspective on the immigrant experience.
These days that is probably needed more than ever.
The building at 97 Orchard Street was contracted by Prussian-born immigrant Lukas Glockner in 1863 and was modified several times to conform with the city's developing housing laws. When first constructed, it contained 22 apartments and a basement level saloon. Modifications over the years included the installation of indoor plumbing (cold running water, two toilets per floor), an air shaft, and gas followed by electricity.
In 1935, rather than continuing to modify the building, the landlord evicted the residents, boarded the upper windows, and sealed the upper floors, leaving only the stoop-level and basement storefronts open for business.
No further changes were made until the Lower East Side Tenement Museum became involved with the building in 1988. As such, the building stands as a kind of time capsule, reflecting 19th and early 20th century living conditions and the changing notions of what constitutes acceptable housing.
We did the Hard Times tour which covered two families’ occupation of an apartment from the 1870s to the 1930s.
This was the recreated home of the Gumpertz family, whose primary breadwinner disappeared during the Panic of 1873, and the Baldizzi family, who persevered through the Great Depression.
An interesting ninety minutes and well worth the time.
We weren’t allowed to take pictures so a few have been ‘borrowed’ from the museum web site.
By lunch time the rain had gone and the sky began, thankfully, to clear.
We had booked a One World Observatory: Skip-All-the-Lines Ticket tour and bad weather wouldn’t be good for that.
We arrived at the marvellous World Trade Centre transport hub, and its central space, the $US4billion Oculus at Westfield World Trade Centre.
After some time at the memorial pools we bypassed the long queues, went through strict security and then entered the elevator (lift) for our 30 mph (48kmh) ride up 102 storeys in 47 seconds. On the way up you watch a virtual time-lapse showing how the New York City skyline has changed from the 1500’s to today.
Wow! Check your stomachs in at the door!
There was still some residual mist in the air but the 360°views were still pretty awesome.
I did the circuit a few times, took photos and videos, and we sat for a while with our complimentary drinks and took it all in.
A new NYC icon not to be missed.
Down to earth once more we headed for Tribeca and the Terrior wine bar for huge selection of wine by the glass and Italian tapas.
Then it was onto Bubby’s for good old fashioned American comfort food for dinner (supper).
1 comment:
Love the photos and story. I would really like to tour the same spots. Thanks much for sharing them with us as that is probably the closest we will get to them!
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