Oppenheimer Walking Tour: Discover Manhattan's Atomic Legacy
5.0
6 Ratings
New York
Uncover the fascinating story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb on a walking tour of Manhattan. Explore his early years, immigrant roots, and the sites of the Manhattan Project.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Upper West Side - We will visit the premarital home of Ella Oppenheimer, Robert Oppenheimer’s mother, to discuss J. Robert Oppenheimer’s immigrant ancestry.
- Upper West Side - We will visit the site of Oppenheimer’s birth to discuss his parents’ life in New York.
- Upper West Side - We will visit the former home of Edwin R. A. Seligman to discuss Oppenheimer’s education at the Ethical Culture School.
- Upper West Side - We will visit the Clarendon, the former home of William Randolph Hearst, who was the talk of Oppenheimer’s childhood neighborhood and had ties with the world leaders who would be forever connected by WWII and Oppenheimer.
- Riverside Drive - We will visit the childhood home of J. Robert Oppenheimer to discuss his childhood and adolescence.
- Soldiers’ and Sailors Monument New York - Visitors will learn about the history of Riverside Drive that coincided with Oppenheimer’s formative years.
- Riverside Drive - We will visit the Master Apartments to discuss FDR’s New Deal and the various ideologies of that era that prospered and informed Oppenheimer as a young man.
- New York Buddhist Church - We will look at the Shinran Statue to discuss the cause and the effect of the atomic bomb.
- Riverside Drive - We will visit the home of Isidor Rabi, a pioneer in 20th-century physics, a Nobel Prize winner, and a close friend of Oppenheimer.
- Columbia University - We will visit a number of sites at the university campus to discuss the Manhattan Project, the aftermath of Oppenheimer’s security hearing, and his Columbia University bicentennial broadcast.
What's Included
- All applicable fees and taxes included
Additional Information
Explore the journey of how New York City nurtured the man known as the ‘architect of the atomic bomb’ and the ‘annihilator of realms.’
Key points:
Uncover the tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s childhood in Manhattan’s west region. Understand how his distinctive learning experience molded his later years. Delve into the immigrant origins of the Oppenheimer lineage. Immerse yourself in the locations of the Manhattan Project and observe the heritage left by the atomic weaponry.
Location
94 Corner Cafe
Broadway
Outside 94 Corner Cafe on the corner of Broadway (east side) and West 94th Street (south side).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
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Melissafm2872lf
Feb 11, 2024
Such a fun afternoon!! - I think I’m addicted to walking tours now thanks to this experience. I’ve done all the Purefinder tours and emphatically recommend each! Perfectly paced, entertaining as they are informative. You get to explore one of the most exciting cities in the country with a vibrant, witty, and engaging host. Worth every penny, do them all!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H41ommaggiek
Jan 27, 2024
Excellent! - A wonderful tour! Krombie is so knowledgeable and funny, she carefully curated this tour to showcase the various circles of society that influenced Oppenheimer's upbringing, moral philosophy, and career. We heard about the thriving expat Jewish community on the Upper West Side, along with the intellectual, scientific, and artistic circles that influenced him. Even though this is a relatively new Purefinder tour, Krombie seems like she already has an excellent grasp of material and was happy to answer questions or elaborate further. Highly recommend, looking forward to another tour with her soon!
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Annietippe
Dec 31, 2023
A delightful and thought provoking idea for a date or tour with friends! - We loved the Oppenheimer tour. It was compelling, eye-opening, and thought provoking. Our guide was brilliantly informed, and find ways to tie so many different movements of the time into the conversation. So while it was Oppenheimer focused, you really got a sense of society, politics and the city at the time!
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Rodeonyc
Nov 30, 2023
Purefinder is a great find! - Second tour with Purefinder . Highly educational walking tour filled with Krombie’s endless knowledge and theatrical delivery. My partner is a lifelong New Yorker and we have both lived on the upper west side for many years. We had no idea that Oppenheimer, his ancestors, and his children had such a presence and influence here. Many cool factoids about the man and his contemporaries who resided here. These tours are the best in NYC for sure.
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Ellar1997
Nov 8, 2023
A Fantastic Tour. - I thoroughly enjoyed this tour! I have done all of Krombie's other tours and I was so excited to embark on this one and I had a fantastic time. I did not know much about Oppenheimer before the tour but I now know so much more. Krombie is so knowledgeable and her tours are so cleverly and carefully put together. You get to see parts of NYC that you don't normally notice or see when you're just walking around normally. I would highly recommend this tour, especially if you like tours that are different to the normal walking tour you would get in NYC. It was honestly so interesting and I had no idea about some of the hidden things that lay where I have previously walked past without giving a second thought. I would highly recommend you do this tour.
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Wander790371
Nov 3, 2023
A better Tour Guide you won't find!!! - This is my second tour with Krombie of Purefinder New York and again, she is just incredible. Her wealth of information for every tour she leads is mind blowing. She is, by far, one of, if not The best tour guide in NYC. And her tours could not be any more interesting as well. I love you, Krombie and cannot wait to see you again! Joanie
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