Each of New York’s many (and overlapping) neighborhoods has its own personality, its own flair. The Lower East Side (LES) is no different.

You can find some of the best street art in NYC in this part of Manhattan. In fact, the Lower East Side has one of the highest concentrations of murals and graffiti in all of New York City!

(Read all about another one of the mural hotspots, Bushwick in Brooklyn, in my post!)

So the next time you’re looking for things to do in New York City, don’t sleep on the Lower East Side. The murals here are world-class. You’ll find street art on just about every block.

That’s my favorite way to experience graffiti: discovering each example of street art as you wander the neighborhood.

So lace up your shoes, charge your camera and head to the Lower East Side. (Not heading to NYC immediately? Then pin this post for your next trip!!)

Things to do – Lower East Side

There are so many great things to do in the Lower East Side. This New York neighborhood is practically synonymous with immigrants, leading to a rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds. Different immigrant groups have put down roots here, from the Irish and Eastern European Jews to the Chinese and Puerto Ricans.

Some of these identities are reflected in Lower East Side graffiti and street art you can see across the neighborhood.

Like many New York City neighborhoods, the Lower East Side is incredibly walkable. You can wander all over this area and stumble upon murals on nearly every block.

What’s special about Lower East Side graffiti?

I personally think that any concentration of world-class street art is special, no matter the neighborhood. The Lower East Side is certainly no exception.

Lower East Side graffiti is incredibly diverse in style, content, point of view and even size. Some murals cover enormously tall buildings, rising maybe 10 stories into the New York sky. Others are small, left in a nook in an alleyway or on a night club door.

Like a lot of street art, Lower East Side graffiti can be political. Murals are public art and inherently more accessible than artwork in, for example, one of New York City’s museums. Many artists who paint on walls—with permission or without—are counterculture.

That means that quite a lot of street art takes a strong stance on political or social issues. One of my favorite Lower East Side murals depicts George Floyd in beautiful brushstrokes of color. To me, this street art portrait says that while George Floyd’s murder was a brutal injustice, he as a person was a beautiful human with a vibrant life.

Where to find murals in LES, NYC (including lots of photos!)

First off, if you’re not already familiar, LES stands for the Lower East Side in New York. (Isn’t it easier to write and say?) So let’s talk where to find murals in this neighborhood.

Truth is, if you wander around (one of my fave things to do on the Lower East Side, and all of New York!), you’ll bump into murals. As soon as you begin looking for it, you’ll see graffiti and street art on nearly every block.

That said, there are a few hotspots where you can find a ton of Lower East Side graffiti. Read on to plan your adventure. It’s like a scavenger hunt to see all this gorgeous street art!

LES business gates (100 Gates Project)

When the day ends, the Lower East Side turns into a huge art gallery. That’s because many businesses in the LES participate in the 100 Gates Projects, which pairs street artists with business owners. The artists paint a mural on the metal gate that covers a storefront when the business is closed.

Even though evenings and Sundays are the best time to see these murals, since more businesses are closed at those times, you’ll still spot plenty of gate murals in other times. Keep an eye out and you’ll see pops of color on gates—which would have been boring grey otherwise.

I’m in love with this project, in part because it brings art to everyone.

Freeman Alley Graffiti Wall

Freeman Alley in the Lower East Side is a narrow stretch where all the walls—and even the pavement—are covered in graffiti, stencils, stickers and other artwork. This spot is constantly changing as street artists add their own flair to the evolving alley.

Freeman Alley Graffiti Wall is also a great place to see all different types of street art in one place. You’ll spot stickers, of course, as well as stenciled artwork and words. You’ll also see wheatpaste art, where artists stick posters or other paper-based images to the wall using a glue-like mixture of water and flour.

Keep an eye out for small-scale paintings and murals, too. Well known artists as well as newcomers on the scene add their mark in this special street art destination.

Whether you’re looking at one piece up close or taking in the entire space, Freeman Alley is a terrific spot for street art in NYC!

First Street Green Art Park + Cultural Park

What used to be an abandoned lot in the Lower East Side is now a community hub. The First Street Green Art Park forms an alley between East 1st Street and Houston (pronounced “house-tun” not the Texas city “h-use-tun”). Open-air movies, concerts, performances and other cultural events routinely come to this hidden park. You can see great Lower East Side graffiti hear anytime.

You’ll spot murals on both sides of the lot.

When you walk east along Houston, you’ll find yourself in an unexpected green space. Called the First Street Green Cultural Park, this space has hidden murals you’ll want to check out.

Artists have painted on the walls that border the green space. Walk through this area and you might forget you’re right next to one of NYC’s busiest streets.

Don’t forget to look closely! In some cases, plants have incorporated themselves into the art. It’s like they didn’t want to be left out of the fun!

First Street Garden

If you weren’t looking for it, you’d probably pass the little First Street Garden without a second glance. This green space is one of many community-run gardens in New York. In fact, when my sister and I stumbled upon it, two people were tending to the plants.

You might not expect to find murals in a community garden, but the First Street Garden is full of ’em. Most fit within an activist and women leaders theme. You’ll find portraits of Shirley Chisolm and Ida B Wells, among many other trailblazers, behind garden beds and greenery.

More Lower East Side street art in NYC

While the hotspots I detail above have high concentrations of murals in one place, you’ll find impressive murals throughout the entire Lower East Side.

Here’s how I recommend you search for street art. You can either walk a route between the areas I outlined above, looking for murals on the blocks in between.

You can also simply show up and wander, finding street art like treasure scattered throughout the LES.

Take the subway to the Lower East Side. Take your time walking throughout the neighborhood, keeping a keen eye out for murals.

(Remember, they might be painted on business gates, doors, alleys and even parks. Pretty much all public space is fair game!)

You have plenty of options for subway stops. Which one works best for you depends on where you’re coming from. I recommend these subway stops to see Lower East Side graffiti:

• 2nd Ave – F
• Bowery – J/Z
• Grand St – B/D
• Essex/Delancey – F/M/J/Z

Places to eat – Lower East Side, NY

This self-guided street art tour in New York is sure to make you hungry! While you’re exploring the Lower East Side area, check out my favorite places to eat in the Lower East Side.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery – Do you love gluten-free, vegan doughnuts as much as I do? Of course you do. That’s why you need to snag these sweet treats when you’re hungry in the Lower East Side. Buy doughnuts, mini doughnuts, bagels, breads and other sweet pastries here at Erin McKenna’s Bakery.

Essex Market – Feeling indecisive? Exploring with friends who can’t agree where to eat? Then head to Essex Market, the public market that’s been open more than 100 years in the LES, NYC. Grab a bagel, sandwich, pastry, turnover, empanada or about a million other yummy food choices. You can dine inside (if you show proof of vaccination, as of Nov 17, 2021) or get food to go. You’ll also find multiple cafes where you can order tea or coffee.

Jajaja Plantas Mexicana – I dare you to say, or eat at, Jajaja without smiling to yourself. The name is literally a laugh, and the all-vegan menu will make your tummy just as glad. I particularly recommend the Buffalo Flower street taco. yum. Jajaja is also well known for their tequila and mezcal, both for sipping and in cocktails. (Find Jajaja on the border between the Lower East Side and Chinatown.)

Pardon My French – If you wrap up your street art tour at cocktail o’clock, make your way to Pardon My French. Their inventive cocktails will make you want to taste through their drinks menu… but be careful because they’re powerful! You might want to order a good base of a burger or baked brie so you don’t have to stumble home.

Where else can I find amazing New York street art?

Luckily for all street art lovers, New York is simply full of epic murals. That said, some neighborhoods are hotspots for graffiti.

These New York neighborhoods have murals that will stay for years; some also have spots where graffiti artists repaint the same wall over and over again. I personally love that street art becomes an ever-rotating gallery. That way it allows newcomer artists to share their work, and street artists can respond to current events or social movements.

Check out some of these other street art destinations in New York City.

Chinatown

The neighborhood to the south of the Lower East Side, Chinatown, also has a ton of gorgeous street art. Walk south from the LES and you’ll stumble across murals, many of which reflect Asian influences.

Bushwick, Brooklyn

One of the best street art locations in New York is undoubtedly Bushwick, in Brooklyn. This neighborhood is simply full of world-class murals from local and international street artists alike.

You’ll definitely want to read all the details in my blog post about the Bushwick street art scene.

Harlem

Brief story: When now-Hubs and I first moved in together about a million years ago, we lived in the basement of a brownstone in Harlem. I was dirt broke so just about everything I did had to be free. Luckily, looking at street art in Harlem cost not a penny!

More recently, I explored Harlem’s Audobon murals and more. This project commissioned street artists to paint bird murals all throughout the neighborhood.

Of course, you’ll also find graffiti and murals unrelated to anything avian. Harlem’s street art is definitely worth a subway trip uptown.

By now, I’m sure you agree that looking at New York City street art is one of the best and most unique things to do in NYC, especially in the Lower East Side. I simply can’t wait for you to travel to New York and explore all these murals!

Do you have a favorite example of Lower East Side graffiti from this post? Let me know in the comments!

And don’t forget to pin this post for later! You’ll want to remember where to find murals in New York City!

The post Lower East Side graffiti: Where to find epic New York street art (+ photos!) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Many visitors to NYC make sure to visit the city’s famous museums but don’t scratch the surface of more off the beaten path things to do in New York. I’m so glad you’re reading this so you can stray from the usual touristy destinations and experience something unique: this Eldridge Street synagogue.

In this post, I’ll share how to visit this important Jewish museum and synagogue in the Lower East Side, what you’ll see there, the history of the building and its ties to the neighborhood, and tips that will make the experience go smoothly.

Read on for all the details of how to visit the Eldridge Street synagogue.

What’s special about the Eldridge Street synagogue?

New York is a city shaped by waves of immigrants from different places, backgrounds and faiths. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of Jewish people came to the U.S. from Europe. They found community—as well as inexpensive housing in tenement buildings—in the Lower East Side.

(If you’re interested to learn more about Jewish life in the Lower East Side, you need to visit the Tenement Museum. Read my insights on that NYC museum here.)

In contrast to the places some immigrants left, Jews were free to practice their religion in the Lower East Side. Synagogues were central to the neighborhood not just for faith but also other opportunities. From visiting with friends to trading tips about jobs, synagogues played a critical part in the LES community.

The synagogue on Eldridge Street, which later became a museum, was one of the more stunning synagogues in New York. It was painstakingly designed and built in the late 19^th century as a very public declaration of faith. (Up to that point, most synagogues were tucked unobtrusively into cellars or converted buildings.)

As the congregation dwindled in the 20^th century, though, this New York synagogue fell into disrepair. That’s when a community group formed to restore the synagogue. When they began, the walls were literally crumbling, holes in the roof let in rain and pigeons roosted in the sanctuary.

What a contrast to this stunning synagogue today.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Family Travel Expert Catherine (@toandfrofam)

One of the most beautiful New York attractions

I think of the Museum at Eldridge Street as the most beautiful New York destination nearly no one has heard of. But once you catch a glimpse of the interior, you’ll want to go immediately.

When you arrive at the Eldridge Street synagogue, go straight upstairs to the sanctuary. The interior of this New York synagogue was lovingly designed, restored and now maintained by the super-friendly museum staff. Everything, from the lamps to the woodwork, is ornately detailed. It’s more than clear that craftspeople poured themselves into making every aspect of the synagogue gorgeous.

The circular stained glass window above the bimah, where the Torah is read, is the Museum at Eldridge Street’s real showstopper. This window is not original to the synagogue; it was commissioned in 2010. The vibrant blue window is now an iconic part of the Eldridge Street synagogue. Sadly, my photos don’t come close to doing this landmark justice.

You’ll see beauty everywhere you turn in the museum. Another circular, epic stained glass window is mounted opposite the blue one. Stained glass stars of David let in colored light. More stained glass on the synagogue’s ceilings shine multicolored sunlight into the sanctuary. Many of the glass had been broken during the synagogue’s years of disuse. Artists recreated the pieces using techniques the original makers would have used.

Wallpaper, paintings, tiles and carved woodwork add to the Eldridge Street synagogue’s grandeur. I felt breathless among its beauty, so I can only imagine how the original congregants felt inside. Most were immigrants, many struggled to make ends meet, and most had never worshipped in such a grand synagogue.

An unknown New York City landmark

The Eldridge Street synagogue was certainly a community hub and meeting place for Jewish immigrants. Roughly 85 percent of the 2.5 million Jewish immigrants who came to the U.S. during peak immigration stayed in New York City. In fact, the Lower East Side neighborhood would have been the most populous Jewish city in the late 1800s, had it been its own town.   

New immigration laws in the 1920s limited the number of people who could move to America. Many people who had settled in the Lower East Side moved away as they became more prosperous and established in New York. The character of the LES changed as other ethnic and cultural groups put down roots in the neighborhood.

The Museum at Eldridge Street helps visitors learn and remember the central role Jewish immigrants played in the evolution of New York City. I’m so grateful that this stunning Lower East Side synagogue was restored and preserved.

When you visit, explore and admire the synagogue’s beauty. Make sure to use your phone’s camera to scan the QR codes in the self-guided tour, too. You’ll learn so much and take in details you might have missed on your own. For example, one spot on the tour directed my attention to the dips in the original wood floor. The uneven spots were worn down from years of people swaying as they prayed.

You’ll probably spend the most time in the Eldridge Street synagogue’s sanctuary and on the floor above, which overlooks the sanctuary and where women attended services (apart from men). Save at least 15 minutes to go through the exhibits on Lower East Side history and how the Jewish community contributed to New York City culture. These are located on the ground floor, where you enter from Eldridge Street.

Visiting the Museum at Eldridge Street

If you were walking by in the Lower East Side, you likely would pass on by the Museum at Eldridge Street without a second glance. But as you can see, its interior is one of the most beautiful places in New York City.

This Lower East Side museum is open Sunday through Friday, usually opening its doors at 10am. I say usually because hours may change on Jewish holidays. Definitely check the website before you go so you’re not disappointed by a closed museum.

One of my favorite things to do in the Lower East Side is to wander around and admire street art. You’ll spot some stunning murals on the blocks surrounding the Eldridge Street synagogue.

No matter if you spend hours or just a few minutes admiring the Museum at Eldridge Street, I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad you visited.

The Museum at Eldridge Street must-know details

Museum hours: Sunday – Thursday 10am-5pm; Friday 10am-3pm. Make sure to check the website because the museum is closed on holidays.

Museum admission: $15 for adults, $8 for children, pay what you wish Mondays

Free admission: Children under 5, U.S. veterans, and people with federally recognized disabilities

Nearby subway stops: East Broadway on the F line, Grand Street on the B and D, and Canal Street on the 6, N, Q, R, J, and Z.

You can also walk from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Don’t forget about this stunning New York attraction. Pin this post for later!

The post Stunning Museum at Eldridge Street: Synagogue hidden gem in LES, NYC appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

The huge number of murals and other street art in Bushwick is concentrated in just a few blocks, making it easy to see gobs of street art all at once. The Bushwick street art project is constantly adding new murals to the mix, too, so you never know what masterpiece you’ll stumble upon.

Getting to Bushwick, Brooklyn is an easy subway ride from Manhattan. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to see incredible Bushwick street art the next time you’re in town.

And you know how much I like to pack my posts full of helpful information, so I also cover the many cool things to do in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Read on to learn not only about the Bushwick murals in Brooklyn but also where to eat and shop in Bushwick as well as other things to do in this cool Brooklyn neighborhood.

All about Bushwick Street Art, Brooklyn

Bushwick, the neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, is one of New York City’s most colorful and street-art filled areas.

Walking around, you’ll probably notice that Bushwick is changing. The wholesalers and auto body shops in this working-class Brooklyn neighborhood watch as signs of gentrification move in. Zero-waste stores, craft beer, and tapas restaurants signal that wealthier residents are showing up.

Originally, Lenape Native Americans called this part of New York home. Then in the 1600s, a group of settlers got permission from the Lenape to form a community they called Boswijck, Dutch for “neighborhood in the woods.” (This peaceful agreement was later violated by European settlers and their descendants. They attacked Native Americans who lived in the hills around the original European settlement, annexing the area and expanding their territory.)

From its outset, Bushwick, Brooklyn was a community of immigrants. Its first settlers were Dutch, French and one of the first enslaved Africans brought to what is now New York, who had worked his way to freedom.

Nowadays, Bushwick is predominantly Hispanic: Almost 70% of people self-identify as Hispanic, with most residents’ heritage from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

History of street art in Bushwick and the Bushwick Collective

Since 2011, the Bushwick Collective—an organization of graffiti artists in Brooklyn who have turned this neighborhood into a street art mecca—have transformed an economically depressed area into one of the best places to see street art in New York City.

The Bushwick Collective was founded by Joe Ficalora, who was born in Bushwick. He wanted to transform a history of trauma—his father was murdered outside a subway station, and his mother died of brain cancer—as well as his home. So he began organizing other artists to make over Bushwick, turning the entire Brooklyn neighborhood into a street art gallery.

The Bushwick Street Art Collective works with artists, business owners, and the community at large to find locations for street art on a large scale. The organization also throws a party every summer, the Bushwick Collective Block Party.

Where to find street art in Bushwick

You might be asking, Where is this Bushwick graffiti? A better question: Where is it not?

You’ll see murals and graffiti as soon as you step out of the subway! Street art in Bushwick is everywhere: On walls above businesses, metal grates, even the sidewalk.

Most of the Brooklyn murals are centered around the main street in Bushwick, Wycoff Avenue. (This is where you’ll get off the L train subway at the Jefferson Street station.) Side streets, such as Troutman and Starr Streets, showcase murals and graffiti on almost every surface.

Although you’ll see a ton of Bushwick street art in just a few blocks, visitors who walk a bit farther afield will be rewarded. Off the beaten path murals were some of my favorites. So don’t stop exploring once you’ve seen the street art most visited by other tourists; keep going for fewer people—and terrific art. Walk a few blocks farther in each direction and you won’t be disappointed.

The many kinds of Bushwick street art

Murals are pretty clearly the most common kind of street art in Bushwick. Pretty much every spare wall, fence, and grate is covered in stunning, statement-making murals.

There are also small-scale Bushwick murals. Not all street art has to be giant and grand: You’ll find mini-sized murals on concrete traffic dividers and pretty much every other available surface. Keep your eyes out for other small-scale murals, for example near grates, on the sidewalks, or hiding in plain sight.

Bushwick murals and graffiti 

You’ll also find graffiti in Bushwick. What’s the difference between graffiti and murals?

Graffiti is stylized writing, often painstakingly painted with impressive effects. Graffiti isn’t necessarily tagging, though. What’s the difference between graffiti and tagging? Tagging is vandalism, often painted on by people marking their territory—literally leaving their mark. Whereas graffiti is often painted with the permission of the property owner and intended to be a more artful, lasting statement.

Sometimes murals and graffiti collide. I’m always super bummed when a mural that clearly took hours and even days to create is tagged. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, though.

Other types of street art in Bushwick

You’ll also find stencil street art in Bushwick. This form of street art is made by cutting a piece of hard cardboard, plastic, or other material to leave gaps that create a picture. Then the artist spray paints over the stencil, leaving an image behind.

Stencil street art is usually smaller in scale than the other Bushwick murals and graffiti, and you’ll notice it’s replicated multiple times. Since you can lay down a stencil and spray paint over it as many times as you want, you’ll find the same image or words over and over again, sometimes with slight variations.

Wheatpasting is another form of iterative street art. Instead of making a stencil and repeatedly painting a simple design, wheatpasting is a bit different.

This street art technique allows an artist to create a more intricate design, print multiple copies, then affix to a wall using wheatpaste—a mixture of water and flour. Wheatpaste street art is less permanent than street art using paint, since rain and the elements can make it deteriorate or fall off.

Finally, keep an eye out for other, even less traditional forms of street art in Brooklyn. I’ve heard there are sculptures of cats throughout this Brooklyn neighborhood, though I didn’t see any. And watch for telephone poles and other neighborhood structures cozied up in knitted “sweaters” and other fabric decorations.

The bottom line: Bushwick is literally an outdoor gallery full of all kinds of street art in Brooklyn.

Other things to do in Bushwick, Brooklyn

If you’re like me, street art in Bushwick is the biggest draw to this Brooklyn neighborhood. It doesn’t mean you have to stop there, though!

Here are other great things to do in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Where to eat in Bushwick

Bushwick is now full of delicious, well-regarded restaurants: In my recent visit, new cafes, tapas spots, and restaurants were being installed as I walked around. While I didn’t have a chance to try all the Bushwick restaurants, general consensus says Sea Wolf is amazing for seafood; Archie’s, Roberta’s and Union Pizza Works for pizza; and Kave Espresso Bar for fancy coffee.

Some of the restaurants in Bushwick have also embraced the neighborhood’s identity as a street art mecca. Dock Asian Eatery, for example, puts stunning murals front and center. I have a feeling that Dock’s Japanese-Thai fusion food is even more delicious under its impressive murals.

My favorite restaurant near the best Brooklyn murals

When I was looking for restaurants in Bushwick, I opted for old school and no-frills. I ate a big ol’ plate of tacos from Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, a counter service restaurant/tortilla factory.

The corn tortillas are obviously fresh since they only have to be moved about 100 feet from the factory to the kitchen, where staff make your tacos right in front of you. And for 3 tacos for less than $10, it’s hard to get a more delicious, more filling meal in Bushwick for better than that.

When I went on a weekday, I got my tacos in about 5 minutes. If you go on a weekend, though, expect a crowd: Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos has become quite the popular taco spot in Brooklyn!

The ordering process is a bit unusual at Tortilleria Mexicana: Look at the menu and write down what you want on an index card you’ll find on the counter. Make a note if your order is to go or to stay and write down your name. Then place the card back on the counter. You’ll pay for your food and drinks when it’s ready and they call up your order.

Where to shop in Bushwick

Bushwick is becoming more hipster, so it makes sense you can now shop for artisan-made clothing, accessories and other goods made right in this Brooklyn neighborhood. Check out Shops at the Loom, a series of stores, and studios in a converted mill.

Better than Jam is an artist and craftsman collective, where makers sell their goods and offer workshops. You can buy clothes, scarves, soaps and other goodies. Or bring a well-loved piece of clothing that needs an update and they’ll indigo dye it, giving it a whole new life. You can even have it shipped home to you if you’re just visiting Bushwick.

And if you’re visiting the Bushwick Street Art Collective on a weekend, you can check out the Bushwick Market. This flea market on the corner of Wyckoff and Willoughby sells used knickknacks. I can’t vouch for whether you’re more likely to find treasure or, well, not-treasure, but it can be fun to hunt!

See more art in Bushwick

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to visit Microscope Gallery in Bushwick, a space that showcases work from contemporary artists that combine digital, moving image, sound, and performance pieces.

But y’all know how much I love unusual museums in New York so I’m putting the Microscope Gallery on my list for the next time I’m in NYC.

How to see Bushwick street art in Brooklyn

To get to the murals in Bushwick, take the L train to the Jefferson Street station in Brooklyn. You’ll find yourself on Wyckoff Avenue, named for a Dutch family who settled here in the 1650s.

As soon as you pop up out of the subway entrance, you’ll see the Bushwick street art all around you.

Is it safe to walk around in Bushwick? I went alone to this Brooklyn neighborhood and was walking around side streets with my DSLR camera. I never ever felt the slightest bit uncomfortable. That said, you should always remain aware of your surroundings and stay safe.

In general, there were plenty of other people looking at the Bushwick Collective street art. People are pretty friendly—I asked a local to take my photo in front of one mural. Other people had brought along friends or mini tripods to take photos.

Bushwick street art: The best murals in Brooklyn

No matter how you see the Bushwick street art collective in Brooklyn, you won’t regret your visit. This neighborhood is the best place in New York to see street art I’ve found so far!

Do you know of other street art neighborhoods in New York? Let me know! I can’t wait to check it out when I’m hunting for more things to do in New York!

PS – Don’t forget to check out my guide to non-touristy museums in New York and my other street art posts!

The post Bushwick Street Art: Where to Find the BEST Murals in Brooklyn (with pictures) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

This small, little known museum makes for a quick visit. The Fire Museum takes you back in history to when New York was still ruled by gangs, and fire fighting was a for-profit business. Then it takes you up to the current day with an emotional exhibit on 9/11.

If you have kids who are at all interested in fire fighters, you simply have to include this on your list of things to do in New York with kids. (My nephew just outgrew his obsession with emergency response vehicles, but he would have loved this quirky New York museum.)

And honestly, I think most kids would enjoy the New York City Fire Museum. Although they won’t be able to slide down a fire pole (#LifeGoals), they can dress up in fire fighter gear and check out the carriages that evolved into the fire trucks we know so well today.

So, if you’re looking for off the beaten path things to do in New York with your kids, mark the Fire Museum on your map.

What you’ll see at the New York City Fire Museum

The New York City Fire Museum takes up two floors of a former fire station in Soho. And just about every square inch of this quirky museum in NYC is filled with fire fighter artifacts, gear, patches and historical photos.

One of my favorite parts of the Fire Museum was seeing how fire fighting carriages eventually turned into cars. The different designs, from how they pumped water to how they sprayed the hose, were fascinating to see.

Anyone who likes steampunk or antiques will also fall in love with all the old fire fighting gear. The craftsmanship of the old lanterns, bells, clocks and medals sure beat out what we can buy today.

Typed explanations throughout the museum provide snippets of history, and how New York’s fire fighters fit into that past.

Level 10 travel tip: The Fire Museum is only one block away from the Color Factory, an interactive exhibit that celebrates color and creativity.

9/11 memorial at the New York City Fire Museum

Set apart from the main sections of the Fire Museum, a 9/11 memorial marks the sacrifice of the city’s fire fighters during the 9/11 attacks and the recovery that followed. I appreciated how the memorial had its own room, somewhat separate from the museum, for a few reasons. Firstly, the 9/11 memorial is an incredibly emotional, somber place. I was glad to have some privacy from the excitement and cool factor of the rest of the museum.

Secondly, not all parents will feel ready to take their kids to the 9/11 memorial. Having the memorial slightly tucked away enables parents’ choice of when and how to discuss the terrorist attacks with their children.  

I went into the 9/11 memorial at the Fire Museum on my own. I took the time to look at the portraits of the fire fighters who died that day, feeling overcome by sadness. I imagined all the people these fire fighters left behind, and the people they helped save.

The memorial itself is covered with their faces. The memorial has two rectangular gaps—absent of the towers that used to stand in Lower Manhattan.

Photographs from 9/11 and the days that followed fill one wall—from the plane hitting the World Trade Center Tower to the dust-covered faces of fire fighters to the funerals of those who didn’t make it out.

The New York City Fire Museum 9/11 memorial brought me back all those years to when I woke up to the news of the attacks. If you’d like to pay your respects to everyone who died on 9/11, and to honor the many people who survived and helped the rescue and recovery efforts, I recommend you visit the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. The enormous—and enormously emotional—memorial stands in Ground Zero.

Level 10 travel tip: You may be more emotionally affected by the national 9/11 Memorial than you expect—I sure was. I ended up ugly crying on a bench next to the memorial. Don’t plan on breezing by the memorial—expect to need some time transitioning to your next activity. And be prepared to answer questions from your kids.

One of New York City’s unusual museums

While you’re in NYC, you’ll definitely want to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Museum of Natural History. I love each of those New York museums, and I make a point to visit them every time I go to NYC.

It’s also fun to find some of the city’s little known museums, like the New York City Fire Museum. This small museum is sort of like a kids’ meal: Just the right amount for a child’s appetite or, in this case, attention span. You won’t need to take tons of snack breaks or bribe them to go see your favorite painting; your kids will be able to make their way through this entire off the beaten path museum in one go.

So if you’re visiting New York City with kids, definitely put the Fire Museum on your list of things to do.

Is there someone you know who would want to visit this unusual museum in New York City? I’d love for you to share this post with them so we can all have more unique experiences in NYC. Thank you!

The post New York City Fire Museum: Off the beaten path NYC with kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.