Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 12 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York worth booking?
Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York is a 2-hour experience in New York, United States, from $59 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 12 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 63 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (12)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $59 per person
This 2.5-hour walking tour meets at the Public Theater in Astor Place, across from Colonnade Row and what was the highest end residential block in the country in the 1830s, the resides of Astors, Delanos and Roosevelts. We end at the Civic Center, and the old Five Points neighborhood of "Gangs of New York" notoriety. Going from the upper class residential precinct of today's Astor Place to the gang-infested slums of the Five Points was a typical request of visitors in the 1830s and 40s. That walk down Broadway would have taken them through a part of town that would, in the 1850s, break out as the new fashionable city center, what we now call SoHo. This part of Broadway was once a tether between the locales of these social extremes. In making that walk again, we decode and deconstruct the streetwalls of NoHo and SoHo to reveal the forces at work in the architectural creation of New York City.
What you get
About this experience
This 2.5-hour walking tour meets at the Public Theater in Astor Place, across from Colonnade Row and what was the highest end residential block in the country in the 1830s, the resides of Astors, Delanos and Roosevelts. We end at the Civic Center, and the old Five Points neighborhood of "Gangs of New York" notoriety. Going from the upper class residential precinct of today's Astor Place to the gang-infested slums of the Five Points was a typical request of visitors in the 1830s and 40s. That walk down Broadway would have taken them through a part of town that would, in the 1850s, break out as the new fashionable city center, what we now call SoHo. This part of Broadway was once a tether between the locales of these social extremes. In making that walk again, we decode and deconstruct the streetwalls of NoHo and SoHo to reveal the forces at work in the architectural creation of New York City.
What's included
Included
- Professional guide
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
The Public Theater
We start at the ruins of Colonnade Row, the early 1830s residence in the country's elite. We will lay the groundwork of history and the forces that passed through a landmark location of many histories. What's most to be appreciated is the high ground setting of once was a pleasure garden when "the city" was far downtown.
15 minutes here
Noho
We walk down Broadway and decode the streetscape making sense of history through the buildings, noticing their styles, and sizes, and how they may have been adapted (and re-adapted) for re-use. Images from the past show the evolution of the SoHo section of Broadway. What went on before the fashionable shops and the artists gallery before them? Who were the people who walked the sidewalks?
15 minutes here
We stop to appreciate Louis Sullivan's only building in the city, and learn its role in the evolution of the skyscraper style.
5 minutes here
SoHo
At Houston Street and Broadway the ancient geography makes it apparent in the asphalt why the grid began here. It was an early site of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and an upper class residential neighborhood. The tour continues through SoHo, a name place only since the 1950s, which begs the question, how did people refer to this part of town at different times in the past? We go down Broadway with explanations, descriptions, and images that deconstruct of the streetscape and reveal the brick-and-mortar history of New York City.
Pass by without stopping
Canal Street
The walk down to Canal Street is a roster of social and retail history, with stories and characters from a by-gone era.
Pass by without stopping
Foley Square
Today's Civic Center was a lake, the shore of which had been the African Burial Ground through much of the British colonial period. The lake would be filled in, and along its old shoreline would develop The Five Points, the most notorious slum in New York City history.
5 minutes here
Columbus Park
The tour ends at the location of The Five Points, now 500 Pearl Street. From the high historical social standing of the beginning of the tour, we end where the most long-lived desperate and deplorable living conditions once existed, from the Irish (and The Five Points), through the tenements of Mulberry Bend, the area is now at the border of the Court District and Chinatown.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
New York
We meet inside the Public Theater, New York's first public library. (Bathrooms are available)
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 12 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
12 verified traveler reviews for Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great tour, learned a lot!
Wonderful tour, great info, good visual aids, encyclopedic knowledge of history and architecture, the serial nature of Manhattan's land use planning ( mostly accidental): a really fun and interesting experience. And, I'm a native NY'er!
Response from the operator: Thank you at much and I hope to see you again!
via Tripadvisor
I have visited NYC many...
I have visited NYC many times, but saw it through a whole new light thanks to this amazing tour guide. He was over the top knowledgeable and fun to tour with. Excellent!!!
Response from the operator: Thank you! It was awesome having you on the tour!
via Viator
Don't miss this chance to hear of New York's history
Amazing tour and so much detailed information and knowledge. Absolutely loved it. Our guide had such a passion for the history of New York. Highly recommend it. Thank you 🙏
Response from the operator: It was great taking you around! I really appreciate that you still came on the tour after everything you went through getting here! I forgot to mention, you should check out pier 57, and look into taking the commuter ferries to see different parts of town, or just to be on the water during these next fw days. Enjoy the city and thank you again!!!
via Viator
Great walking tour
Excellent guide, many facts not know about New York in the 1800’s Fascinating Architecture not noticed until pointed out, We take things for granted but understanding what went behind the building of NYC is very interesting.
Response from the operator: It was a pleasure taking you around, thank you for the great review!
via Viator
Fantastic!
This is my second tour with Manhattan Unlocked and both have been spectacular! We learned so much and saw things we would never have noticed (or understood the significance of) on our own. I highly recommend these tours!!
Response from the operator: It was great to see you and thank you for looking out for me!!! Hope to see you again
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 58.3.
See everything Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours runsWhy this scores 63
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.
How much does Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York cost?
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Prices start at $59 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New York usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New York is not rushed.
Is Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 12 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in New York, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New York can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New York and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New York within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in New York?
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New York has more bookable experiences than any other city on Outty, and the quality spread is brutal. Observation decks are commoditised, so we score them on timed-entry reliability and sunset slots. Food tours and borough walks are where the ranking really separates operators, and the top scores in the city all come from small-group guides. On Outty we rank every New York experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports, Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit New York?
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September to early November, and late April through June. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in New York?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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Included: Professional guide. Not included: Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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We meet inside the Public Theater, New York's first public library. (Bathrooms are available) Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Recreate the Most Requested Walking Tour of 1840s New York?
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Across 12 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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