The Tenement Museum allows you to step back in time and explore the former homes of immigrant, migrant and refugee families who built new lives in America.

The historic tenement house turned museum is estimated to have housed around 15,000 different people between the years 1863 and 1935 and reveals the personal stories and struggles of some of the former tenants and families.

It is only possible to enter the museum by booking a guided visit, which you can select from various tenement apartment tours on their website. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fit in a visit during my last trip so I can’t recommend which tour to choose, but from their website they all look extremely interesting and very informative providing first-hand accounts of what living conditions and life was like for immigrants arriving in New York during the 19th and 20th century.