The Bowery Official Historic District Tour

11 Reviews5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 11 reviews collected by Cool New York City and TripAdvisor | New York City, USA

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1 hour 30 minutes (Approx.)
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Overview

Join us on a journey through over four centuries as we walk down NYC’s oldest street! Originally a Native American footpath and Dutch farm road, site of the first free Black homesteads, it witnessed gang wars, the bloody Astor Place Riot, & Lincoln’s famous anti-slavery speech at Cooper Union. It was the working-class main street for sailors, shopgirls, gangs, gays, and waves of immigrant Irish, Italians, Germans, Jews, and Chinese. NYC’s first entertainment district, it has seminal links to tap dance, vaudeville, Yiddish theater, Houdini, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Mae West, modern tattooing, Abstract Expressionism, Beat literature, improvisational jazz and punk rock. Though it declined in the 1900s, when flop houses and dive bars proliferated, it nonetheless became home to affordable jewelry, lighting, and restaurant supply stores, and a live-work home for artists like Marc Rothko, Maya Lin, William Burroughs, Robert Frank, and Debbie Harry.

What's Included

  • Sightseeing Guide
  • Gratuity

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Confucius Plaza, 1-9, 6702, Bowery, New York, NY 10002, USA

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End point

7 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

Start Time • 03:30 PM

What To Expect

Statue of Confucius

Meeting point is at the Confucius Statue at Confucius Plaza, corner of Bowery and Division Street
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Doyers Street

We'll stop at the entrance to Doyers Street, aka Murder Alley and the Bloody Angle during the 19th Century
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Manhattan Bridge

We'll pass by the Triumphal Arch and Colonnade of the Manhattan Bridge, we'll stop to talk about the Original Diamond District on Bowery and Canal, the old Citizens Bank Building, Confucius Plaza and former sights of the German Winter Garden and Windsor Theatre
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Bowery Ballroom

We will stop near the old Bowery Ballroom, one of the last music vestiges of the Bowery, we'll also talk about the old LIncoln Hotel, former site of one of the Germania Bank Buildings and more
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

New Museum of Contemporary Art

Stopping near the New Museum of Contemporary Art Building we will talk about the Bowery Mission, Italian Opera Houses, Yiddish Theatre and more
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bowery Poetry Club

We will stop near the Bowery Poetry Club and talk about the Punk Rock era of Bowery. Right across the street was the location of the famous CBGB's. We are not far from Electric Ladyland and former residence of Deborah Harry (Blondie)
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cooper Union Foundation Building

As we approach the Cooper Union Foundation Building we will also have a few stops along Cooper Square including the old Village Voice Building, Carl Fischer Music Building, McSorley's Ale House, and more
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-41393P10

Reviews

5.00
11 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 11 traveler reviews collected by Cool New York City and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
11
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

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