What To Expect
Our National Historic Landmark is a portal into the life of Jewish immigrants of 125 years ago. The synagogue’s uplifting architecture, juxtaposed against its tenement neighborhood, will delight and inspire.
- A hands-on experience. The Museum is not a traditional gallery — we want our visitors to physically experience this magnificent space.
- Award-winning interactive exhibits. Games and activities make history fun and accessible.
- Create art inspired by the history and architecture of the synagogue.
Our Story Time is free and perfect for children ages 2-5. Our Preservation Detectives Family Program is perfect for families with children ages 5-10. Families with children ages 10 and older will enjoy our standard guided tour.
Explore The Lower East Side
A visit to the Museum is enhanced by an exploration of our dynamic Lower East Side-Chinatown neighborhood. Download our Neighborhood Activity Guide(.pdf) with food, parks and other neighborhood attractions, as well as fun facts and suggested activities.
See a Google Map of the Lower East Side's family attractions. »
Programs & Events
Story Time - Every Monday at 10am
Free. For children ages 2-5.
Join us for a special hour reading stories and making art in the museum.
Preservation Detectives - Every Sunday at 11am
$15 per family. For children ages 5-10.
Binoculars? Check. Notepads? Check. Magnifying glasses? Check. Preservation Detectives, grab your tools and prepare for adventure. Step into a world filled with color, stories, and secrets. Climb stairs, count stars, open doors, even peek inside these 125 year old walls. (You won't believe what you'll see!) Each month our family program features a different theme, a special art project, and a new discovery!
In May, our warm weather favorite: the All of a Kind Family Walking Tour!
Follow in the footsteps of Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie, the beloved sisters of Sydney Taylor's classic novel, All of a Kind Family. Explore the old neighborhood and see where children played, shopped, and grew up a century ago. Along the way, buy pickles from a barrel and a treat (or two!) from a favorite neighborhood candy store. Join us for this one hour tour, Sundays at 11 a.m. May 6, 13, 20.
Great Reads
Each of these great books is available at the Museum's gift shop. To order, please call 212.219.0327.
All-of-a-Kind Family series
by Sydney Taylor
Share the adventures a of a lively, Jewish immigrant family living in the Lower East Side on the eve of WWI in this time-honored classic.
If You Lived 100 Years Ago
by Ann McGovern
Enjoy this illustrated guide to how both the rich and poor dressed, traveled, dined and entertained in New York City at the turn of last century.
The Castle on Hester Street
by Linda Heller
Hear the tale of a grandpa’s journey from Russia to New York , including his widely imaginative encounter with a flying goat, buttons the size of sleds, and even a castle on Hester Street.
When Mindy Saved Hanukkah
by Eric Kimmel
Meet the Klein family- little miniature people living behind the walls of the famous Eldridge Street Synagogue at the turn of the century- in this spirited and beautifully illustrated story.
