Garbage and Rats in New York City Walking Tour
- 2h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
The Garbage and Rats in NYC Walking Tour is a unique dive into dirty subjects: -how New York City is built on trash; -how rats thrive on human consumption; - and how NYC has dealt with both these filthy, disease-causing problems since 1626. We'll learn about rat biology and habits, garbage disposal systems, metaphorical rats (i.e. - corrupt people), and gross stories featuring all of the above. This is the intersection of science and history at its finest! The guide is a graduate of the New York City Trash Academy, the New York City Rat Academy, and a member of the New York City Rat Pack, "an elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists." Rats, garbage, and New York City history are her passions! Please note: During the tour we may or may not see rats, but everyone will learn a lot about NYC's long history with garbage and rats!
Inclusions
What's included
- This experience includes a guided walking tour.
- Max 15 people per tour for an intimate experience
What's not
- Bottled water
Itinerary
We will start on Wall Street and discuss its role as a garbage dump in Nieuw Amsterdam, as well as the official market for buying and renting enslaved African people.
As we walk up South Street, we will discuss the history of garbage, landfill, rats, and the former Fulton Street Fish Market. We will also stop at the former site of Sportsman's Hall, a notorious "rat pit," to talk about rat fights.
We will visit DeLury Square and talk about the garbage strike of 1968, John DeLury, and the Sanitation Union. Then we shall stroll down the historic Ryder and Eden Alleys.
The tour continues up Ann Street, the site of an infamous rat attack in 1979, into Theatre Alley, and to City Hall Park. Along the way, we will dive into more rat lore and trash-y facts.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 5141
- 41
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- 10
Ratings come from 142 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- We will meet on the southeast corner of Wall Street and Pearl Street (in front of the Hyatt Hotel). The guide will have a sign for Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 15 travellers
- Operated by
- Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in New York City
- Its from-price is 47% below the median of the 2673 experiences we list in New York City.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 268 of 2673.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About New York City
New York City packs skyscrapers, famous museums, Broadway theatres and dozens of distinct neighbourhoods into five boroughs that hum day and night.
Manhattan is the classic first stop. Times Square glows above the theatre district, Central Park stretches for blocks between the Upper East and Upper West Sides, and the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center define the midtown skyline. Downtown, the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge sit close together, and boats run out past the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island.
Top-ranked sights in New York City: Statue of Liberty, Central Park, National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Special offers in New York City
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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