On a recent walking tour, students explored the diverse histories of the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Nolita. They visited the Eldridge Street and Bialystoker synagogues and experienced a powerful moment sitting in segregated pews in a historic church, once designated for enslaved people forced to watch their owners pray below.
At Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we learned about Bishop John Hughes’ defense of Catholic schools and Irish immigrants during the rise of nativism. In Chinatown, students explored Mott and Doyers Streets, discovering the role of tongs as support networks that sometimes led to conflict, often sensationalized in local newspapers.
The tour ended with a lively debate about the Elizabeth Street Garden, a community green space threatened by plans for senior housing—most students were surprised to learn it existed, making the conversation even more impactful.
This walking tour gave students a meaningful look at NYC’s layered and sometimes difficult history.
*two of the pics are from a photography exhibit we saw at Eldridge Synagogue that showed Yiddish signs and how the neighborhood was still a flourishing Jewish enclave as late as the 70s. See a full size photo collage here.
