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Soak up the sun this week as you venture out into the city with Untapped New York! This week, join us as we explore the natural history of Governors Island, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, uncover secrets of the subway and so much more.
Secrets of the Brooklyn Bridge
As an Untapped New York Insider, you have access to even more eye-opening experiences! This June, Insiders will enjoy food samples from the Brooklyn Night Market, venture to the abandoned Civil War-era structures at Fort Totten Park, and more! These experiences are members-only events. Insiders also save $5 off Untapped New York’s public walking tours. Become an Insider today and get your first month free with code JOINUS!
Do you have photos from an Untapped New York tour? Send them to us at contact@untappedcities.com and you may be featured on our website or social media channels! You can also tag us @untappedny on Instagram. See the list below for all our upcoming experiences in June!
The Great Fire of 1835 was a momentous occasion that reshaped Lower Manhattan. On this walking tour led by Burning Gotham creator James Scully, you’ll revisit 1830s NYC to uncover sites and stories surrounding the tragic event. Scully will share how these true stories inspired the characters and events of his radio drama, Burning Gotham. This event is free for Untapped New York Insiders!
On this tour, you’ll uncover the hidden gems of one of NYC’s most popular landmarks. Walk through a lobby covered in gold, find out where there is a sterling silver model airplane made by the Cartier, and peer into a secret portal that ceremoniously marks the completion of Rockefeller Center’s construction (and is signed by John D. Rockefeller himself). These NYC walking tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Walk across the span of New York City’s most famous bridge while you uncover its secrets! Learn about the hidden champagne vaults and Col War bunker that were found inside its anchorages, hear stories of the ill-fated family of engineers who designed the bridge, visit an abandoned park, see the location of America’s first White House, and more!
Walk through the unfinished Civil War-era structures left along the Queens waterfront on a ranger-guided tour of Fort Totten! This military site turned public park still bears the marks of its former lives. On this tour, you’ll get to visit the historic transport tunnel, torpedo magazines, the old Water Battery, the main magazine, and more. This tour is free for Untapped New York Insiders!
On this tour led by a Save Ellis Island docent, you’ll don a hard hat and enter the abandoned hospital complex on the island’s south side. Once the standard for United States medical care, the facility was later transformed into a US Coast Guard base and an FBI detention center. This exclusive behind-the-scenes tour will take you into areas usually off limits to the public including the laundry building, contagious disease wards, autopsy room, and more! As you explore, you will see larger-than-life images of immigrants pasted on the walls, part of artist JR’s exhibition, “Unframed- Ellis Island.” This tour is offered every Saturday and select Sundays.
Nibble on pickles, knishes, and candy as you walk the historic streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side! With a longtime resident as your guide, you’ll learn about a time when the LES was the most densely populated district in the world, uncover art galleries, event spaces, restaurants, and other establishments that were once synagogues, stop by important Jewish landmarks, and more.
On this tour led by a trained naturalist and former National Park Service Ranger, you’ll unpack over 400 years of history while enjoying the scenic views and natural settings of Governors Island. Used by both Native Americans and Dutch settlers, Governors Island has undergone multiple transformations over the centuries. It hosted three different military fortifications and now serves as a hub of recreation, cultural arts, and climate research. Explore the ever-changing island and discover what lies ahead!
Stroll along Millionaire’s Row and see the opulent homes of New York City’s Gilded Age. On this tour, you’ll admire the magnificent homes that still exist, and see historical images of those that have been lost to time while listening to stories of the scandals that took place inside. At the end of tour, you’ll step inside one of these dazzling buildings and visit a hidden bookstore!
Be one of the first to step inside The Huron, a brand-new luxury condo complex on Brooklyn’s waterfront! On this construction tour, you’ll discover how Greenpoint‘s shipbuilding past inspired the design of this two-tower structure, learn about the creative amenity spaces, and admire the breathtaking waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline that sits just across the East River.
Visit hidden tennis courts, spot a design flaw in the iconic main atrium space, find out where there’s a secret staircase, and uncover more secrets of NYC’s historic train terminal on this expert-led tour! You’ll trace the evolution of the station from its construction and golden age through its near demolition. This guided walking tour is offered every day of the week. If you’re an Untapped New York Insider, you can get $5 off our public walking tours!
Venture deep below the streets of New York City to explore the subterranean transit system. Starting at the very beginning, you’ll trace the evolution of the subway from opening day to the present. Along the way, you’ll discover hidden symbols in subway art, ride through abandoned stations, and see a side of the subway you never knew about. This tour runs every Monday through Saturday!
Check out all of our NYC walking tours here!
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