Private tour in New York City Robert A

Explore the Ruins of a Forgotten City in the Middle of Manhattan

5.0

(2) reviews

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Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

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Start time
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Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Robert A.

5.0

Guide rating

9

Reviews

Tours delivered

12 hrs

Avg. response time

Hi, New York City is a mesmerizing mix of buildings from wildly different periods, in wildly different architectural styles, from towering Art Deco skyscrapers to charming brownstones, and every sort of building in between. What is the story and the logic behind a city the author James Baldwin called, "spitefully incoherent. " I've spent decades studying, decoding, and deciphering New York's unique urban landscape from the Financial District to Central Park in order to tell a story of New York that's never been told. It's New York's own story as told through the built environment and answers the question: Why does New York City look the way it does? Between the Battery and Central Park are neighborhoods created by a slow-motion onslaught of brick and mortar, cast-iron, stone glass and steel that ran uptown through the middle of Manhattan. Left behind are the neighborhoods we know today as Museum Mile, the Fifth Avenue shopping district, Times Square, the Garment District and Herald Square, Murray Hill and the Empire State Building, Madison Square and the Flatiron Building, the Village and Union Square, NoHo and SoHo, Chinatown and the Lower East Side, Tribeca, and finally City Hall and the Financial District. Explore the different neighborhoods of New York and understand the sweeping histories that created a city unique in the history of the world. NYC Sightseeing Guide License #1278562-DCA Author of a NYC history blog. Bachelor of Science, History, Pace University, 1991 magna cum laude I am not a driver. I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and driver.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Robert A.

Overview of your New York City tour

Explore the ruins of a forgotten city in the middle of Manhattan. History is written in the streetwalls, and this tour seeks out the brief life of the Gilded Age city when the finest shops, theaters, hotels and museums radiated out from where Fifth Avenue, Broadway and 23rd street all cross at Madison Square. It was the carriage trade era of top hats, fashionable brownstone living, and hotel life. It was a time when saloons, brothels and gambling halls were common, and just around the corner from Broadway in a district known as the Tenderloin. Historic images will transport you back to that brilliant city that only lasted about 25-30 years. And you'll learn about the extraordinary change that swept over this relatively small area of land, in a relatively brief amount of time. It is a story of rural farms being overrun by churches and homes, being overrun by shops, theaters, and hotels, in turn being overrun by buildings for offices and manufacturing. All in a generation or two.

Your New York City tour itinerary

* Flatiron Building (aka Madison Square Park, the Flatiron District and NoMad) * Fifth Avenue * Empire State Building * Metropolitan Life Insurance Clock Tower * Gilded Age shopping districts of the upper and middle classes * Gilded Age red-light district (aka The Tenderloin) * The Wollcott Hotel

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Transport details
Type: Walking

This is a Walking Tour!

What's included
Other
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

175 5th Avenue, New York, New York, 10010, United States

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: We meet at the Flatiron Building, 175 Fifth Avenue. Please meet on the east, Broadway side of the building.

  • You can request a different meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout process.
Other details
Tour categories
Architecture
History
Tour reference number
462889
Languages
English
Activity level
Minimal
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
5.0

Traveller reviews for this private tour in New York City

2 reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who is this private tour in New York City best suited for?

This private tour is perfect for history enthusiasts and those interested in the Gilded Age of New York City. It's also ideal for travellers who enjoy walking tours and want to explore the historical transformation of Manhattan's Madison Square area. Families with kids will find it suitable as well, given its kid-friendly nature.

Where does the tour start and end?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-6 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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