Find out what happens to your recycling on a behind-the-scenes tour of the sorting facility, touch the remnants of NYC’s first colony, explore the natural and man-made features of Governors Island, and find more things to do this week in NYC! Don’t forget, Untapped New York Insiders get $5 off any Untapped New York public walking tours, plus access to member-exclusive in-person and virtual events.
The Art of Grand Central Madison
Thursday, October 5th – See What Happens to NYC’s Recycling
Go behind the scenes at the facility where tons of New York City’s recycling gets processed every day! On this tour, you’ll explore the Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility, a waterfront site where metal, glass, and plastic are sorted. You’ll also get to see NYC’s only commercial-scale wind turbine and learn more about the City’s sustainability initiatives. This tour is free for Untapped New York Insiders! Not an Insider yet? Use code JOINUS for your first month free!
Friday, October 6th – Explore the Early Days of the NYC Subway System
Use a subway car as your own personal time machine as you travel through abandoned stations and trace the evolution of the transit system from its earliest days to the present. Along the way, uncover hidden art installations. forgotten passageways, and quirky historical anecdotes. This tour runs every day, Monday through Saturday!
Saturday, October 7th – Uncover the Hidden Gems of Governor’s Island
Enjoy stunning views of Manhattan and the Hudson River as you explore the former military sites, new recreational areas, and ecological features of Governors Island! This tour is led by a trained naturalist and former National Park Service Ranger who worked on Governors Island. This tour runs once a month!
Saturday, October 7th – Touch the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam
With a 17th-century map in hand, you’ll explore the streets of Lower Manhattan – arranged in the same grid layout as set down by the Dutch colonists! Along the way, you’ll find Manhattan’s original coastline, uncover an 18th-century wall that is now part of a subway station, pass through the oldest fence in NYC and so much more.
Saturday, October 7th – Go Inside an Abandoned Autopsy Room
This hard hat tour of the abandoned hospital on Ellis Island will take you into areas that are usually off-limits to the public. You’ll step inside a dormant laundry facility where large machinery remains, see the autopsy room which became a renowned teaching facility where medical professionals and students would watch demonstrations, and see the larger-than-life images of immigrants pasted on the walls in an art installation by JR.
Sunday, October 8th – Trace the Evolution of Riverside Drive
Join one of our brand-new Rediscover Your City tours! This tour series is designed specifically for local New Yorkers to show you a side of NYC you never knew existed. Learn the stories behind Riverside Drive’s historic monuments, get a peek into apartment life from real life and the silver screen, and find out fun facts even Upper West Side residents don’t know!
Sunday, October 8th – The Art of Grand Central Madison
Discover works of art in the historic train terminal and the new station below! On this art walk, you’ll see a series of hidden mosaics that bring celestial bodies down to Earth, examine the details of a massive installation by Yayoi Kusama, learn how the natural habitats of Long Island inspired Kiki Smith, and more!
Sunday, October 8th – Hear Scandalous Stories of Gilded Age Society
Find out what went on behind the ornate doors of 5th Avenue’s most illustrious Gilded Age mansions as you stroll up the famous thoroughfare. You’ll hear stories of masquerade balls, society rivals, and unimaginably large fortunes as you admire the architecture of buildings both extant and lost to time.
Monday, October 9th – Explore the Hidden Gems of Grand Central Terminal
Peer into hidden tennis courts, find out what’s hiding beneath the iconic clock at the center of the main concourse, locate remnants of a lost movie theater, visit an office-turned-speakeasy, and uncover more secrets of this historic train terminal! This tour is offered every day of the week!
Wednesday, October 11th – Celebrate the Mom-and-Pop Shops of NYC
Celebrate the unique aesthetics of New York City’s mom-and-pop storefronts in a virtual photo talk with NYC photographers James and Karla Murray! The duo will share images from their latest book, Storefront NYC. You’ll learn a bit of history about each business, as well as what went on behind-the-scenes to get the perfect shot!
Do you have photos from an Untapped New York tour? Send them to us at [email protected] and you may be featured on our website or social media channels! You can also tag us @untappedny on Instagram.
Check out all of our NYC walking tours here!