See New York City as you never have before on one of Untapped Cities’ behind-the-scenes tours. Every week Untapped Cities offers expert-led walking tours of some of the city’s most famous landmarks and surprising locations you may have never known about. This week, gain access to the stunning cathedral-like lobby of what was once the world’s tallest skyscraper, uncover the remnants of the formerly grand Penn Station, explore an abandoned hospital on the less-travelled side of Ellis Island and more!

Tuesday, March 12th

Special Access Tour of the Woolworth Building

Photograph by Jochen Enderlin

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Special Access inside the Woolworth Building, which is normally off-limits to the public
  • Learn about the history of the building, how it was created and has been restored over the years
  • Visit the spectacular “cathedral-esque” lobby and mezzanine of the building, nicknamed the “Cathedral of Commerce”
  • Explore the cellar level where you will see an abandoned bank vault and entrances that once had direct access to the NYC subway
  • Contemplate many Art Deco details including the gorgeous mailboxes and elevators

Insider Tour of the Woolworth Building

Friday, March 15th

Curator Led Walkthrough of “In the Dugout with Jackie Robinson” at the Museum of the City of New York 

Get an in-depth look at the Museum of the City of New York‘s latest exhibit, In the Dugout with Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait of a Baseball Legend, a special exhibit commemorating the 100th anniversary of the all-star baseball player’s birthday. Led by curator Susan Johnson, guests will tour the exhibit which encompasses Robinson’s entire ground breaking career as the first African American to play in major league baseball, starting from his days as rookie on the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers team in 1945 to his retirement in 1957, through unpublished photographs from the museum’s permanent Look magazine collection, sports memorabilia, and rare home videos. You can join this free tour if you are an Untapped Cities Insider! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today to gain access to free behind-the-scenes tours and special New York City events all year long!

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Saturday, March 16th

Tour of the Remnants of Penn Station 

Penn Station-Vintage Photograph-McKim Mead White-Train Station-Remnants-Tour-NYCImage via Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: 

  • Get a comprehensive history of the past, present and future of Penn Station
  • See over a dozen indoor and outdoor old-station remnants hidden in plain sight
  • Learn insider navigation tips for one of the most cramped and complicated transit hubs in North America
  • See never-before-seen old station photos from the collections of three photographers who photo documented Penn’s life and demolition
  • Each guest will also receive a framable, reproduction ticket of the first commuter ride into Pennsylvania Station from 1910

Tour of the Remnants of Penn Station

VIP Tour of the Woolworth Building 

Photograph by Jochen Enderlin

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Access the Woolworth Building, which is normally off-limits to the public, with building architect Cass Gilbert’s great granddaughter, Helen Post Curry
  • Learn about the history of the Building, how it was created and has been restored over the years
  • Visit the spectacular “cathedral-esque” lobby and mezzanine of the building nicknamed the “Cathedral of Commerce”
  • Explore the cellar level where you will see an abandoned bank vault and former direct access to the NYC subway
  • Contemplate many Art Deco details including the gorgeous mailboxes and elevators

VIP Tour of the Woolworth Building

Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Explore the over 100-year-old contagious disease hospital, which has been abandoned since 1954
  • See an exhibition by the world-renowned artist JR, who has placed life-sized historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants on interior walls of the hospital buildings
  • Visit the Laundry Building, where 3000+ pieces of laundry were washed and sanitized daily
  • Discover the kitchen, autopsy room and other usually off-limits places
  • Get special access inside the original morgue and long abandoned FBI offices

Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital

Underground Tour of the NYC Subway

Photograph Courtesy of Jochen Enderlin 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Explore City Hall Park as the birthplace of the NYC subway system, including elements of the famed, decommissioned City Hall Station you can see right in the park
  • Learn about the comically short route of the mythical “Subway before the Subway,” Alfred Ely Beach’s Pneumatic Transit System
  • See the architectural ghosts of the now nearly forgotten, and partially abandoned, Chambers Street station then nicknamed the “Grand Central of Downtown”
  • Use the 6 train as your own time machine as you ride through abandoned subway stations
  • Discover the remnants of Union Station as you learn about a hidden art installation thousands of riders walk by everyday

Underground Tour of the NYC Subway

Tour the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Learn about the secrets of one of NYC’s most iconic buildings
  • See Grand Central’s hidden tennis courts
  • Peek into the entrance of the glass walkways
  • Learn about the design flaw as large as Grand Central Terminal’s main atrium
  • Discover a multi-million dollars jewel hidden in plain sight and more!

Tour of the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal

Sunday, March 17th

Tour of The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Walk the city’s original coast line
  • See the remains of Manhattan’s first City Hall
  • Discover the original Dutch fort, wind mill and battery
  • Trace the streets of Manhattan in 1667 with Manhattan’s first map in hand
  • Physically touch history as we spend time finding out why Bowling Green has its name and why it’s been so important in our city’s history

Tour of The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam

See our full lists of upcoming public tours and Insider events!