Brooklyn Bridge & Brooklyn Heights

First we cross the Brooklyn Bridge and recount the dramatic story of how it was built. Then we stroll the tree-lined streets of the Heights exploring the rich architectural, social and literary history. Stops could include: Abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Church, many exquisite examples of 19th century architecture, and sites associated with Walt Whitman, Truman Capote, Arthur Miller and John and Washington Roebling. Tour concludes on the Promenade on Brooklyn Heights with a spectacular view of downtown Manhattan.

Meet: The southeast corner of Broadway & Chambers Street, at City Hall Park. Trains: 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, 1/2/3/9/A/C/E to Chambers Street, R/W to City Hall.

Central Park

Manhattan's collective backyard is actually the largest man-made work of art in the city. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a place of spiritual uplift, today New Yorkers use it for much more. Stops could include: the Sheep Meadow, Belvedere Castle, the Lake, the Ramble, Bow Bridge, Seneca Village, the Casino, and the site of the "rocking chair" riot.

Meet: Northeast corner of 66th Street and Central Park West, under the "Tavern on the Green" sign. Trains: 1/9 to 66th Street, B/C to 72nd Street.

Chinatown

New York hosts the largest "Chinatown" in the Western Hemisphere. This neighborhood is a diverse Asian community settled by people from many provinces of mainland China, as well as Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Learn about Chinese immigration as our tour could stop at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, the Church of the Transfiguration, the Lee Family Association, outdoor markets and the Lin Zeju and Confucius statues.

Meet: The southeast corner of Grand & Chrystie Street, at Roosevelt Park. Trains: Trains: B/D to Grand Street.

The East Village

Explore the area made famous by radicals and immigrants alike, combining the history of German, Ukrainian, and Jewish immigrants with that of labor activism and the Second Avenue Stage. Stops could include: the Fillmore East, the Catholic Worker, St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery, and sites associated with Peter Cooper, Dorothy Day, Peter Stuyvesant, Sophie Tucker and the General Slocum disaster of 1904.

Meet: Meet: The Black Cube at Astor Place. Trains: 6 to Astor Place, R/W to 8th Street.

Ellis Island: Group tours only

Visit the place where 12 million immigrants first set foot in America.. Enjoy a guided tour of the immigration museum in the Great Hall as retrace the steps of those who passed through and talk about the history of American immigration. Also available: Jewish Ellis Island.

Meet: The Immigrant Statue, located directly in front of Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Trains: 4/5 to Bowling Green, R/W to Whitehall Street, 1/9 to South Ferry.

The Financial District

A guided tour of Lower Manhattan exploring the historic and financial heart of New York. This tour traces the development of Wall Street as the world's premier financial center - from its Colonial roots to the Big Board's most recent activities. Stops could include: J.P. Morgan's bank, the New York Stock Exchange, Fraunces Tavern, the Federal Reserve Bank, and sites associated with Alexander Hamilton, John D. Rockefeller, and Victoria Woodhull.

Meet: In front of Trinity Church, intersection of Wall Street & Broadway. Trains: 2/3/4/5 to Wall Street, R/W to Rector Street.

The "Official" Gangs of New York Tour

A tour exploring the legends and lore of the Five Points neighborhood and Herbert Asbury’s 1927 classic The Gangs of New York – the inspiration for the major motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese. Stops could include: Paradise Square, “Murderers Alley”, and sites associated with Bill “The Butcher” Poole, William M. Tweed, Master Juba, and the 1857 Police and 1863 Draft Riots.

Meet: the southeast corner of Broadway & Chambers Street, at City Hall Park. Trains: 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, 1/2/3/9/A/C/E to Chambers Street, R/W to City Hall.

A Gay & Lesbian History Tour

Before Stonewall: Discover the many facets of lesbian and gay history as we trace the development of Greenwich Village. Stops could include: The Stonewall Inn, The Duplex, and sites associated with Bayard Rustin, Willa Cather, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Audre Lorde.

Meet: Northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North. Trains: 6 to Astor Place, R/W to 8th Street, A/B/C/D/E/F to West 4th Street, 1/9 to Christopher Street.

Gramercy Park and Union Square

Revisit the tumult of Union Square, once home to both fashionable theater and socialist rallies. Then stroll on to the refined streets of the exclusive enclave which surrounds New York's only private park. Stops could include: Tammany Hall, the Players Club, and the homes of George Templeton Strong, Stanford White, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Meet: The George Washington Statue located on the 14th Street side of Union Square. Trains: 4/5/6/N/R/W/L to Union Square.

Greenwich Village

Stroll through New York's unique and legendary home to artists, writers and radicals, with a special emphasis on the history and architecture of this neighborhood. Stops could include: the Jefferson Market Courthouse, the "hanging elm", the Stonewall Inn, Grove Court, and sites associated with Stanford White, Aaron Burr, Edith Wharton, John Sloan, and Thomas Paine.

Meet: Northeast corner of Seventh Avenue South and Christopher Street, in front of Duplex. Trains: 1 to Christopher Street; A/B/C/D/E/F/V to West 4th Street.

Green-Wood Cemetery

Covering some 474 acres and containing more than 600,000 graves, Green-Wood is New York's great Victorian "City of the Dead". This tour is an introduction to the history, architecture, and people of this Brooklyn treasure. Stops could include the graves of DeWitt Clinton, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Leonard Bernstein, and John "The Soda Fountain King" Matthews.

Meet: Green-Wood's main entrance, 5th Avenue & 25th Street, Brooklyn. One block east of the "R" train subway 25th Street station. Ample free parking within cemetery gates. Trains: R to 25th Street.

Historic Fort Greene

A walking tour exploring one of Brooklyn’s most diverse neighborhoods.  Join us as we stroll the streets of this wonderful neighborhood with forays into Clinton Hill and the area surrounding the Pratt Institute.  Stops could include sites associated with the Underground Railroad, Spike Lee, Marianne Moore, Stanford White, Richard Wright, and the Arbuckle family.   Tour developed in association with the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation.

Meet:The southeast corner of Flatbush Avenue & Hanson Place, under the large red BAM sign.  Trains: 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, M, N, Q, R, to Atlantic/Pacific and the LIRR .

Historic Harlem

At the center of African-American history and culture, Harlem is one of New York's most significant neighborhoods, featuring a wide array of historic churches, theaters, clubs and homes. Stops could include: Abyssinian Baptist Church, Striver's Row, the Big Apple Night Club, and sites associated with the Harlem Renaissance, W.E.B. Du Bois, Madame C.J. Walker, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and many others.

Meet: Northwest corner of 135th Street & Lenox (Malcolm X) Avenue Ð in front of the Schomburg Center. Trains: 2/3 to 135th Street.

Historic Lower Manhattan

A wide-ranging tour exploring the history, architecture, and people of Lower Manhattan - the birthplace of New Amsterdam and now the world's financial center. Stops could include: Trinity Church, and sites associated with 18th-century slave uprising, J. P. Morgan, Alexander Hamilton, Cass Gilbert, George Washington, Abbie Hoffman, and others.

Meet: Front steps of the U.S. Custom House, located at Bowling Green. Trains: 4/5 to Bowling Green, R/W to Whitehall Street, 1/9 to South Ferry.

Historic TriBeCa

Explore the architectural and historic wonders of the "Triangle Below Canal." TriBeCa has come full circle - from residential neighborhood to industrial center and back. Stops could include: St. John's Park, the former Mercantile Exchange, several cast-iron landmarks, and sites associated with architects Carrere & Hastings, McComb, and Bogardus.

Meet: Bogardus Triangle, intersection of Chambers, Hudson & West Broadway. Trains: 1/2/3/9/A/C/E to Chambers Street.

Immigrant New York

A walking tour through the many layers of the multi-ethnic Lower East Side to see the historic and architectural landmarks associated with African, Chinese, German, Irish, Italian, Jewish and Latino immigrants. Stops could include: The "Tweed" Courthouse, Five Points, the African Burial Ground, and sites associated with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Jacob Riis, Abraham Cahan, Pierre Toussaint, Emma Goldman, and many others.

Meet: The southeast corner of Broadway & Chambers Street, at City Hall Park. Trains: 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, 1/2/3/9/A/C/E to Chambers Street, R/W to City Hall.

"I'll Never Go There Anymore": The Bowery

A walk along the most infamous street in New York City's history. Join us as we explore the nation's oldest highway, learn how it became America's "skid row", and is now experiencing an economic renaissance. Stops could include: The Amato Opera House, McGurk's Suicide Hall, CBGB, the landmark Bowery Savings Bank, flophouses, MOCA, and sites associated with Peter Cooper, Steve Brodie, and Bill "the Butcher" Poole.

Meet: The Black Cube at Astor Place. Trains: 6 to Astor Place, R/W to 8th Street.

Irish New York

Explore the former "Little Ireland" district of the Lower East Side, between City Hall and Houston Street. This 19th-century neighborhood had more Irish residents than Dublin! Stops could include: the founding site of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Al Smith's home, the Five Points, the first Catholic church in the city, and sites associated with Tammany Hall, Thomas Addis Emmet, and many others.

Meet: Directly in front of St. Paul's Chapel, Broadway between Fulton and Vesey Streets. Trains: 2/34/5/A/C/J/M/Z to Fulton, R/W to Cortland Street.

Jewish Lower East Side

Stroll through more than 150 years of Jewish history on the East Side. Our tour combines historic and religious sites, politics and people of what was once the largest Jewish community in the world. Stops could include: the founding site of the B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Daily Forward building, the historic Eldridge Street Synagogue, and sites associated with Rabbi Jacob Joseph, Abraham Cahan, and Lillian Wald. Though a partnership with the 1654 Society, our tour may include a visit inside the historic colonial cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel ($3 per person donation required).

Meet: Southeast corner of Delancey and Essex Streets, in front of the Olympic Diner. Trains: F to Delancey Street, J/M/Z to Essex Street.

The Original Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour : Reservations Requested

A tour that mixes history and gastronomy on the multi-ethnic Lower East Side. Learn about the Jewish East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown as we nosh our way through the neighborhood sampling foods traditional to the Dominican Republic, Eastern Europe, China, Italy, and more. Ask about the “enhanced” noshing tour available for private group tours only.

Meet: Southeast corner of Delancey and Essex Streets, in front of the Olympic Diner. Trains: F to Delancey Street, J/M/Z to Essex Street.

Park Slope

Explore Brooklyn's "Gold Coast". As one of New York's finest residential neighborhoods, Park Slope is a landmark district filled with remarkable brownstone architecture and splendid history. Stops could include: The Montauk Club, Litchfield Villa, Grand Army Plaza, and sites associated with architect Charles P.H. Gilbert, Mayor William Gaynor, and the site of the 1960 plane crash.

Meet: Southeast corner of Plaza Street West and Flatbush Avenue, at the newsstand. Trains: 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza.

Prospect Park

Designed by Olmsted & Vaux and covering almost 600 acres, Prospect Park is a masterpiece of design, including a 60-acre lake, meadows, hills, and waterfalls, not to mention Brooklyn's only remaining natural forest. Stops could include: the Oriental Pavilion, the Vale of Cashmere, the Long Meadow, the Camperdown Elm, and sites associated with Stanford White, Lord Stirling, and Marianne Moore.

Meet: The intersection of Prospect Park West and Ninth Street, at the Marquis de Lafayette memorial. Trains: F to Seventh Avenue (exit front end of train at Eighth Avenue and Ninth Street, one block from meeting site).

Revolutionary New York

A tour of Lower Manhattan visiting sites associated with our nation's War of Independence and New York's role in the early Republic. Stops could include: Fraunces Tavern, the graves of Alexander Hamilton and General Richard Montgomery, Federal Hall, and sites associated with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay and Albert Gallatin.

Meet: Intersection of Broadway and Murray Street, at gated entrance to City Hall Park. Trains: 2/3 to Park Place, 4/5/6/ to Brooklyn Bridge, R/W to City Hall.

SoHo & NoLiTa

Trace the historic evolution of the area "South of Houston" and the district "North of Little Italy" from remote farmland to landmarked Cast Iron District. Stops could include: the “little” Singer Building, the Haughwout Building and many revolutionary cast iron structures, Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and sites associated with Weegee, James Bogardus, and Keith Haring.

Meet: Southeast corner of Spring & Lafayette, in front of the old East River Savings Bank. Trains: 6 to Spring Street, R/W to Prince Street.

Times Square

Join us as we explore the vast history, architecture, theater and underworld of legendary Times Square - the Crossroads of the World. Stops could include: The New-York Public Library, Astor Hotel, Palace Theater, Sardi's and sites associated with the Shuberts, Flo Ziegfeld, Bob Hope, Fanny Brice, and Damon Runyon.

Meet: The southeast corner of 42nd Street & Sixth Avenue, at Bryant Park. Trains: 1/2/3/9/7/B/D/F/Q/N/R/W to 42nd Street/Times Square.

The Upper East Side

Come discover the residential, religious, and commercial settings of one of New York's most exquisite neighborhoods. The Upper East Side offers not only a panorama of the "upper 400" but a vital mixture of history, architecture, and culture. Stops could include: the 7th Regiment Armory, Temple Emanu-El, Union Club, and sites associated with Morgan, Frick, Astor, and Vanderbilt.

Meet: The General Sherman statue, northwest corner of Fifth Avenue & 59th Street. Trains: N/R/W to Fifth Avenue, 4/5/6 to 59th Street.

The Upper West Side

A walking tour exploring the rich architecture and social history of Manhattan's West Side. Stops could include: Lincoln Center, the Dakota and Ansonia apartment houses, Dante Square, and sites associated with Rudolph Valentino, Rabbi Stephen Wise, and the Parlor Mob.

Meet: Northeast corner of 59th Street and Central Park West at Columbus Circle, at the US Maine Memorial. Trains: 1/9/A/B/C/D to 59th Street/Columbus Circle.

We Built New York: A Labor History Tour

A tour featuring the role that immigrants and the labor movement have played in the growth of New York City. Stops could include: the first Labor Day Parade (1882), the founding site of the ILGWU, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the Catholic Worker, and sites associated with Emma Goldman, Clara Lemlich, and Samuel Gompers.

Meet: Northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North. Trains: 6 to Astor Place, R/W to 8th Street, A/B/C/D/E/F to West 4th Street, 1/9 to Christopher Street.