Discover the rich history of NYC’s oldest street, from Native American footpath to bustling entertainment district. Explore its connections to art, music, literature, and more!
- Statue of Confucius - Meeting point is at the Confucius Statue at Confucius Plaza, corner of Bowery and Division Street
- Doyers Street - We’ll stop at the entrance to Doyers Street, aka Murder Alley and the Bloody Angle during the 19th Century
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- Sightseeing tour with a knowledgeable guide
- Gratuity
Embark on an exploration through more than 400 years of history as we traverse New York City’s most ancient thoroughfare! Initially used as a Native American pathway and Dutch agricultural route, it was the location of the inaugural homes owned by free African-Americans, became a hotspot for gang conflicts, the brutal Astor Place Riot, and Abraham Lincoln’s renowned speech against slavery at Cooper Union. It served as a primary road used by blue-collar workers, including sailors, retail workers, gang members, homosexuals, and a host of immigrants including Irish, Italians, Germans, Jews, and Chinese. As the first entertainment hub in NYC, it has deeply ingrained ties with tap dancing, vaudeville, Yiddish Theatre, Houdini, Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Mae West, contemporary tattoo arts, Abstract Expressionism, Beat Era literature, improvisational jazz, and punk music. Despite its decline in the 20th century, characterised by an influx of cheap lodging houses and shoddy bars, it still emerged as a hub for economical jewelry, lighting, and restaurant supply outlets, and served as a residence and workspace for artists such as Marc Rothko, Maya Lin, William Burroughs, Robert Frank, and Debbie Harry.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
