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Offered languages
- English
Explore New York City’s Gilded Age through the contrasting lives of the wealthy elite and the working-class laborers who built their fortunes. This 2-hour walking tour covers 1.7 miles from Jefferson Market Library to Union Square, revealing stories of scandal, labor unrest, and political loyalty. Discover the hidden narratives of figures like Victoria Woodhull, Mother Mandelbaum, and the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, as you walk in the footsteps of those who shaped this era.
- Walk through historical sites from Greenwich Village to Union Square
- Learn about the class divide during the Gilded Age
- Hear captivating stories of scandal, crime, and labor struggles
- Ideal for history enthusiasts and those interested in social justice issues
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The guide will be outside the entrance, holding a folder with the name of the tour on it.
Itinerary
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1Jefferson Market Library
Begin outside the former courthouse with Stanford White’s sensational murder and the conduct his powerful circle preferred not to discuss.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Greenwich Village
See MacDougal Alley’s surviving carriage houses and hear why Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s wealth could not make the art world take her seriously.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Washington Square Park Audio Tour
Trace Washington Square’s changing class map and an early labor protest over NYU’s use of Sing Sing prisoners.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Washington Square Park Audio Tour
Visit the nearby Brown Building and hear about the “Shirtwaist Kings” and the bitter labor struggle that preceded the Triangle fire.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Cooper Union Foundation Building
Discover why Victoria Woodhull entered Cooper Union disguised as an old woman while federal marshals watched the doors.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Union Square
Follow a vanishing Tiffany diamond into Mother Mandelbaum’s criminal world.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Union Square
See Tammany Hall’s last headquarters and learn why working-class New Yorkers remained loyal to its notoriously corrupt political machine.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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