• The Public Theater - We begin at the remnants of Colonnade Row, an elite residence from the early 1830s. Here, we will delve into the history and significant events that have shaped this landmark location. Notably, this area was once a pleasure garden, offering a high ground setting when “the city” was much further downtown.
• Noho - As we stroll down Broadway, we will interpret the streetscape, understanding history through the architecture, noting the styles, sizes, and adaptations of the buildings. Historical images will illustrate the transformation of the SoHo section of Broadway. What existed before the trendy shops and art galleries? Who were the people that once walked these sidewalks?
• Bayard–Condict Building - We will pause to admire Louis Sullivan’s sole building in the city and explore its significance in the development of the skyscraper style.
• SoHo - At the intersection of Houston Street and Broadway, the ancient geography is evident in the asphalt, explaining why the grid system began here. This area was once the site of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and an upscale residential neighborhood.

The tour continues through SoHo, a name that has only been in use since the 1950s, prompting the question of how this area was referred to in different historical periods.

We will proceed down Broadway with detailed explanations, descriptions, and images that deconstruct the streetscape, revealing the brick-and-mortar history of New York City.

• Canal Street - The walk to Canal Street offers a glimpse into the social and retail history, filled with stories and characters from a bygone era.
• Foley Square - What is now the Civic Center was once a lake, with its shore serving as the African Burial Ground during much of the British colonial period. The lake was eventually filled in, and along its former shoreline developed The Five Points, the most infamous slum in New York City’s history.
• Columbus Park - The tour concludes at the site of The Five Points, now 500 Pearl Street. From the high social standing at the start of the tour, we end at a location that once had the most desperate and deplorable living conditions, from the Irish immigrants of The Five Points to the tenements of Mulberry Bend. Today, this area lies at the border of the Court District and Chinatown.

• Professional guide

• Gratuities

This guided walk of 2.5 hours initiates at the Public Theater situated in Astor Place, positioned across from Colonnade Row and what was once the most prestigious residential hub of the country during the 1830s, housing the Astors, Delanos, and Roosevelts. Our journey concludes at the Civic Center, and the former Five Points neighborhood infamous for the ‘Gangs of New York’.

The transition from the high-end residential area of current Astor Place to the gang-ridden ghetto of Five Points was a common inclination among tourists during the 1830s and 40s. This stroll along Broadway led them through a part of the city which, by the 1850s, emerged as the new chic city center, presently known as SoHo. This segment of Broadway once served as a link between these social polarities. Repeating this stroll, we unpack and interpret the façades of NoHo and SoHo to uncover the dynamics behind New York City’s architectural evolution.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.