The Bowery Official Historic District Tour
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
1-9
6702, Bowery, New York, NY 10002, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
Foundation Building
East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003, USA
Tour ends at the Cooper Union Foundation Building
What To Expect
Statue of Confucius
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Doyers Street
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Manhattan Bridge
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
The Bowery Ballroom
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
New Museum of Contemporary Art
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Bowery Poetry Club
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Cooper Union Foundation Building
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Bowery Official Historic District Tour?
A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT). Read more Apr 2025
Traveler Photos





Reviews
Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 12 traveler reviews collected by Cool New York City and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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