Address 108 Orchard Street, New York Map, Reservations Visits by guided tour only. Call or visit the website well in advance to book. A limited number of same day tickets are available on site. Website
The Tenement museum is an unusual type of museum. With the goal of preserving an important part of new york history, and promoting understanding of the immigrant experience, the organization bought a tenement building that had been shuttered since 1935. They carefully restored the building, researching the families who had lived there & their experiences. Today you can take a guided tour to visit the apartments and learn about the lives of actual past residents. The tours are fascinating and every tour we've been on has had a engaging and well educated guide. While the tours are geared towards adults, older kids and teens will get a great snapshot of history with a visit to the tenement museum. The museum is not recommended for small children who may have a difficult time with the small spaces and the need to not touch.
The Tenement Museum Website has a wealth of information about the building, it's residents, and the history of the neighborhood and is worth checking out even if you don't plan to take a tour.