Explore some of New York City’s most iconic and little known locations on an expert led behind-the-scenes tour from Untapped Cities! Every week we offer exciting experiences designed to help you rediscover your city. From roaming the halls of an abandoned hospital to uncovering the secrets of one of New York City’s most famous landmarks, check out everything going on this week:

Thursday, January 24th

Tour the Offices of SWA/Balsley with Principal Architect Thomas Balsley

Photograph by Bill Tatham, Courtesy of SWA/Balsley

Join renowned landscape architect Thomas Balsley of SWA/Balsley in his recently redesigned studio for a conversation about his decades of design practice transforming the public realm–parks, plazas, and waterfronts– into the great spaces that make our urban lives more livable. Insiders will hear about Balsley’s iconic projects in the United States and abroad, as well as those right here in New York City. Balsley will also provide a brief history of Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park, which was co-designed with Weiss/Manfredi. You can join this free tour if you are an Untapped Cities Insiders. Not an Insider yet?  Become a member today to join behind-the-scenes tours and special events all year round!

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Saturday, January 26th

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

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

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

See all upcoming Untapped Cities Public Tours and Insider Events!