The History and Secrets of the Bowery

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This tour will cover sights along the Bowery - one of the oldest street in New York City. We'll pass by old theaters, flophouses, beer gardens, former museums of oddities, statures, and much more.

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Highlights

Learn about Bull’s Head Tavern where Washington recruited men to fight
Visit the spot where P.T. Barnum opened his first site in 1839
Visit the site of the Bowery Mission which still operates
Learn about the evolution of theater in NYC including where Blackface was born
Learn about Flop Houses and former places of oddities

Description

The Bowery is one of the most architecturally and historically diverse streets in New York City, comprising buildings from nearly every decade between 1800 and 1940. Home to theaters, grand bank buildings, education centers, and flophouses, the historic 1.5-mile Bowery had it all. One of the first major thoroughfare in New York City, a trail created by the Native Americans, the Bowery quickly earned a reputation as a place for wild fun and an anything-goes attitude. Join us and you’ll visit numerous sites including the grand Cooper Union building, the former sites of Amato Opera House and music venue CBGB, and much more.