I have wanted to see the Museum at Eldridge Street for quite awhile, but it's just never worked out before. I booked a guided tour because I enjoy hearing the backstory and history of buildings. We were running 30 minutes late, but luckily we were able to join the already in progress tour. Elaine was a very knowledgeable, enthusiast guide. We learned a lot about Jewish history and the building of the synagogue. Our favorite part was being able to see the inside of the beautiful synagogue. Luckily this treasure was restored and not allowed to fall into disrepair for the benefit of all who are privileged to see it. It's a beautiful look into yesteryear. read more

See all

Built in the late 1880s by Eastern European immigrants, the Eldridge Street Synagogue was a symbol of religious freedom for the masses of Jewish people who came to the Lower East Side. About a hundred years later it was renovated to bring the structure back to its former glory; its beauty is undeniable with the focal point being the blue stained-glass window. If detailed interiors are your things, check out the painted arches & ornate woodwork on the balcony that holds the second level of pews. The museum is located on the lower level where the flooring is original to the building. When we went, there was a sizable exhibit of mezuzahs, scrolls placed on the doorpost of a Jewish home. The synagogue is a piece of living history. Its preservation ensures that generations to come can visit & learn the stories of immigration to this neighborhood. Take a docent-led tour or a self-guided one like we did. $15 admission fee, pay what you wish on Mondays & Fridays. read more

See all

Great lesser-known museum with a lot of interesting and authentic history. Guided tour was informative and memorable, with an astute balance between discussing the things you could see in front of you, and discussing people, cultures and past events. Beautiful stained glass and decorative elements, many with cultural significance. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Outside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Had a very insightful visit, the tour with Barbara was fascinating. The Synagogue is beautiful and the tour provided incredible information about the history. read more

See all

Beautiful, historic synagogue in the Lower East Side/Chinatown. Absolutely worth visiting, and the docent tour is wonderfully informative and very interesting. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Refurbished historical synagogue - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Both the exterior and interior of this historic site are stunning. Spending an hour on the docent-led tour is key to understanding the story of the immigrants fleeing oppression in Eastern Europe and taking their place in a safe, prosperous community here. Barbara Newman was a wonderfully informative, humorous and friendly guide to every detail of the ornate architecture and the restoration process. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - entering the sanctuary - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

My wife and I were looking for somewhere else to visit while in Chinatown and saw a post about this museum. It's a restored synagogue and absolutely gorgeous. The staff were welcoming and friendly, explaining a bit about the history and giving us programs for the self-guided tour when we entered. We were able to walk around and could feel a sense of reverence once we entered the main space with its restored windows and ceiling. There is also currently an exhibit of historic menorahs from around the world. Everything about this building draws the eyes upward and the light through the windows could not be more beautiful. Before we left, the docent staffing the main register was happy to answer some of my questions about the restoration and the use of paint or wallpaper on surfaces. Highly recommend visiting for an afternoon! read more

See all

Of the many places of worship in NYC this is included in my lists of the most beautiful! Jaw dropping architecture, interiors & colors with a history to much. Went on a Friday which is free for Nyc residents & i booked ahead on line. The staff here are friendly & not in the way. You can book a tour too, we didn't. There are writings on the walls which are interesting reads especially if you like history. Visit can take 30-1 hour. There are bathroom down stairs. This place is a walking distance from the restaurants in Canal street. So this is a good side trip after a food trip in Chinatown. read more

See all

I'd been thinking about visiting this museum for several years years. It's a beautiful place that is no longer used for religious services. I took the docent tour and recommend doing so if you have the time. It's looked on the Lower East Side in what was Americas most famous Jewish neighborhood . The neighborhood is now essentially an annex of Chinatown, therefore a lot of places to eat including some Vietnamese places. Walk north to Canal Street then go East to an area that I think is called Dime Square. That has developed into a mini restaurant district. Quite interesting and pedestrianized at night. read more

See all

My wife and I were in NYC in December of 2025, and she wanted to attend this museum. I must say, it is a 10 out of 10 if you take the guided tour. Such interesting history and also such helpful information about American History. We took the guided tour with Alizah, and she was perhaps the best guide I have ever witnessed at any museum. Probably a lot of my enthusiasm about this museum is because of her. We had 21 people on our tour (she said that was a record) and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience. She interacted extremely well with two kids and all of the rest of us. I highly recommend Alizah and that you consider taking a guided tour at this museum. read more

A historical synagogue nestled in New York's Lower East Side. It was built in 1887 by Jewish immigrants and in 1986 a thorough restoration project began after a long period of building neglect and deterioration. It's such a beautiful synagogue. The addition of the monumental circular stained glass window designed by artist Kiki Smith and architect Deborah Gans marked the end of the restoration project. The exhibits here highlight how this glass window came to be as well as the rigorous process of preserving intricate details of the synagogue. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. $15 general admission. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

This museum is located inside the Eldridge Street Synagogue. I think the museum opened about 15 years ago. The architecture with its ornate style wood and very nice glass windows which are very colorful make for some nice photography. I got a little creative with the shots with some closeups on the colorful glass. read more

See all

The visit to the Eldridge Synagogue was the highlight of our walking adventure through the Lower East side . Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about his subject and his technique of asking questions kept everyone involved. The temple itself is a magnificent building with a mix of original and modern artifacts. We brought two 12 year olds and they said this was their favorite part of our day! read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

See all

What a great surprise this beautiful historic synagogue was for us. I had read about this location ahead of our visit, and I am so glad we stopped in. The entire space is spiritually beautiful - the lighting, the woodwork, and the exhibit of Menorahs from around the world were beautiful. I learned a lot from the self-guided tour, and would recommend the docent tour in the future. Just beautiful. read more

I believe once upon of time this was an operating synagogue. It is nested in Chinatown, NYC. It is a beautiful synagogue. and is a piece of history. When you go to the first and second floors (not the admission floor), notice the creaking floors. Those floors were the original floors. I was told they kept it to keep the old times that showcases how it feels to walk on those floors back then. Inside the church, it showcases the history of Jewish immigration. If you come here on Monday, admission is free by donation. If you come on other days, it is $15. They also have tours by registration. read more

See all

Beautiful, unique, and perfect for taking beautiful photos. I'm told the tours are great, but they are currently suspended right now. There is an online guide you can get with a QR code, and it is basic, but sufficient. Everyone on site is very friendly and helpful. There is a small museum on the first floor. June is pay what you wish month, but it's normally 15 dollars. Time slots can be arranged online and are 45 minutes long. During my time, only one other single woman and a man with two teens were there. read more

See all

This is a fantastic place to visit. Lots of history in an amazing building. We took the docent tour and we couldn't have been happier with it because seeing this on your own, there's no way you could get the kind of information that the docent provided. Treat yourself! read more

This museum/synagogue is small and casual, yet filled with information and knowledge! It's a great way to learn about the local Jewish community and what Chinatown was like before it was actually Chinatown, because - surprise, surprise - Jews were there first! They give free tours for forty-five minutes, and Jaime was my guide. She was so sweet and informative! They also have a coat check and some books and stickers for sale. Overview of the synagogue is that there was an influx of Eastern European Jewish immigrants starting in the 1880s, and they, along with Irish and Italian people, lived in the LES because it was cheap and clean. They built a synagogue on Allen Street, and then they moved that one to Eldridge Street to make a more complete one. The exterior has Moorish and Gothic features, along with numerical Jewish symbols. Jaime taught me about the menorahs that were donated, the kosher beef boycott that took place, the features of the synagogue, like the beemah, arc, windows, vestibule, floor grooves, and walnut wood chairs. Fun fact: the seatings have holy trinity holes because the synagogue ordered them from church catalogs because there were no synagogue catalogs, without knowing what they were, so now they say it represents the three forefathers of Judaism! I think anyone can benefit from visiting. It's a very interesting and pretty landmark with a rich history. I'd suggest setting an hour max aside. L'chaim. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

See all

The museum has been closed since March of last year and it will finally reopen on June 1. Regular hours of operation will resume, but timed ticketing will be required (reservations can be made on the website) and there will be enhanced safety procedures. Admission will be "pay what you wish" during the month of June. All visitors will utilize a new digital self-guided tour (available in English, Spanish and Chinese), in order to maintain social distancing for awhile longer. Docent-led tours will return eventually. Online programming will continue - including video interviews with folk artists & neighborhood residents, at-home kids' activities, blog posts, community partnerships and more. read more

We joined the guided tour that covers the history of the museum (a former synagogue) and some discussions of Jewish history in Lower East Side that has much changed from its early days. It's great to see all the details that are now restored to their former glory. read more

Honestly best docents in the world. Really enjoyed getting to visit this historical synagogue and wonderful piece of NYC history. On a weekday morning, I had a one on one tour with an incredible docent who had so much knowledge. While the museum on its own is a stunning space hearing his stories made it really come to life. Absolutely worthwhile. Practical information $15 entry (docent tours included). Mask wearing required. read more

Hidden gem and a must see, if you live in NYC. Especially, if you live in the Lower East Side. This is right down the block on Eldridge street. There is so much history, history I was completely unaware of. This is a museum about Jewish NYC and immigration stories, which I think is so profoundly important in these current times. Not only is it informational but it's also extremely beautiful. There are free tours and on Monday's it's "pay as you wish" aka FREE. Highly recommended! read more

See all

Gorgeous historical building and I've heard great things about the tour. Unfortunately didn't have time to take one but I'll be back for sure! read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Outside of Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing museum dedicated to the history of a beautiful synagogue in the Lower East Side. The synagogue was one of the first opened in the United States by Ashkenazim (Eastern European Jews); most earlier synagogues were opened by Sephardim (Jews of Spanish or Portuguese descent). It opened in 1887 as an Orthodox congregation and it has served as a synagogue ever since. However, the membership dwindled as many Jews left the Lower East Side and the sanctuary fell into disrepair and was closed off in the 1950s (services continued to be held in the basement). In 1986, a foundation was created to restore the sanctuary, and the gorgeous restoration was completed in 2007 (after $20 millions went into the building). They have tours on the hour, which take you around the basement (which has historical objects, a few videos, and more) and then into the sanctuary. While our tour guide was lovely, she essentially read signs to us that we could have read ourselves, so you're not missing much if you miss the tour and walk and read everything yourself. But the highlight of the museum is that beautiful sanctuary. Beautifully restored to its Moorish Revival glory, there's so much to look at! Gorgeous woodwork, beautiful stained glass, restored original chandeliers, faux-woodgraining and faux-marbelizing, stenciling, and more. The most stunning thing in the sanctuary? A STUNNING stained glass window designed by artist Kiki Smith that is composed of 1,200 pieces of stained glass adhered with silicone and set in a steel frame. It is the only 21st century addition to the otherwise historically preserved sanctuary, and it's stunning. There's a film about it that you can watch in the basement museum. This museum is unique and certainly worth a visit. A gem for anyone interested in Jewish American history or the history of the Lower East Side/New York City. read more

See all

Gorgeous and full of history. Tour guide was excellent. I learned so much about the it's culture and lower east side history. A hidden gem. read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - Hidden gem in the les/Chinatown. Tour guide was excellent. Learned so much. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Beautiful synagogue. A small museum with background information on the history and restoration of the space. $14.00 admission fee. Tour included. I got there forty minutes before closing and just joined a tour that had already started. There is ample information on the walls and they also gave me a pamphlet. If you skip the tour and just do a self-guided walk-through, it doesn't seem like you'd really miss out on a lot. Of course, a tour is always useful especially if you have questions. A must for Jewish folks and a great stop for anyone interested in NYC history or religious buildings. read more

After living in NY for 20 years and leaving for 10 and now back in NY as a tourist. My husband being of the Jewish Faith has known about this Synagogue, but have never been there. We finally were able to get to see and it was well worth it especially for him, reading the history and for me seeing the beautiful stained glass and reading about the renovations fascinated me. We did not opt to do the tour, rather walked around ourselves. Its a small Synagogue and does not require a lot of time to tour and enjoy, but well worth it especially when you are in the heart of Chinatown and some of the best Deli's and Pickles in NYC. read more

See all

If you go! Definitely book the tour. We learned so much from Scott and was truly immersed in the history of The Museum at Eldridge. I would 1000% recommend. They also have pay what you wish on Monday's and are open 6/7 days a week. We also took some amazing videos and pictures. The museum itself has so much history and artwork. While it is smaller than other museums, this one happens to be a synagogue and it was my first time ever inside of one. I don't often get to appreciate synagogues and I am so honored to be walking inside of this one. It was located in Chinatown and it was quite empty. I would recommend going during the winter time so you have the space to yourself. read more

See all

I was looking up things to do in Chinatown and stumbled upon this museum. I didn't do any research at all and was expecting something related to China or asians, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was a museum about the Jewish immigrants and the church that was restored Not expecting anything at all, I got the digital tour on my phone and walked to the first tour point. Wow, I was mesmerized by the circular mural at the top. It was so beautiful. I came to learn as I went through the tour that the mural was actually an addition during the restoration of the church. I spent a couple hours here and read through the whole digital tour and really soaked in everything. I had a great time here and would definitely recommend you check it out! read more

See all

Pretty cool tour of an old/classic NY synagogue. It is hidden away in the LES and situated next to local shops and restaurants. Going in felt like being transformed back to another time period. Self tour was great. Employees there are nice, and it was nice and quiet when I visited. Overall probably took about 45 mins to check out the whole thing. Small cool thing to do in the area if you have time or want to learn more about old NY Jewish culture read more

If you're looking for an authentic New York City experience then I highly recommend you visit the Eldridge St Museum. The docents are kind and extremely knowledgeable about the museum and the buildings history. This is one of the best experiences to enjoy here in New York! read more

Fabulous experience.... March 2023 My husband and I had read about the history of the Eldridge Street Synagogue and Museum and stopped by to take a look. WOW!!!!! The synagogue was breathtaking and the one-hour (FREE) tour was exceptional. Susan was our tour guide. She was articulate and enthusiastic in her presentation and thoughtful and respectful as she explained the meaning of the various artifacts and materials in the museum. We came away enlightened and grateful for this lesser-known tourist destination. Very few people and a personalized educational tour that was top-notch. Highly recommend. read more

This synagogue is beautiful!! Take a tour and learn the history of the building. Seeing the condition it was in before versus now is amazing. Monday is pay what you want. read more

Gorgeous. Free admission with an NYCID card. Interesting exhibits downstairs (they were running the "Jewish Lives in China" exhibit when I was there--fascinating stuff), with the breathtaking synagogue on ground level, and a lovely birds eye view complete with more exhibits upstairs. read more

It was a brief tour. We really didn't get a chance to review all that it has to offer because of the crowd - as it was Egg, Eggcream & Empanada Festival. There were lots of stairs, a line for the bathroom and the traffic was horrendous - not enough space to accommodate the crowd. We met a lovely woman who recommended a near by Chinese restaurant called Lam Zhao (see my next review) - you just never know who you'll meet! read more

Museum at Eldridge Street - The synagogue. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

If you're looking for a unique lower east side opportunity, I would HIGHLY recommend taking the docent led tour. Firstly, the site itself is an amazing restoration and stands as a beautiful showcase of history of both the Jewish community and the lower east side. The docents are very knowledgeable, and deliver an excellent tour of the spaces with explanations, story telling and even humor. If at all possible, I would encourage anyone one of any background to visit! read more

I visit all sorts of religious places, even though I'm not religious myself. But the history and beauty of many places draws me in. Eldridge Museum is also an active synagogue. So it's not open everyday. Check the website for up-to-date info on that if you are considering a visit. The building is gorgeous. They have old and new stained glass. The building had fallen into disrepair for a while and some things had to be replaced. So you can see the difference in technology on stained glass. If you are interested in history or synagogues this is a must do when in NYC. Nevermind that the part of town is great. read more

I love this "museum"! It's still an active and STUNNING Jewish synagogue today. I highly recommend watching the documentary (3 video clips) in their library before joining their hourly tours. They go into detail on how they stepped into an abandoned time capsule in the 1980s and gradually, over the course of 20 years and $20 million, restored the synagogue. A lot of manual labor went into this project as many of the pieces were restored by hand. Even the walls were painted by hand to look like marble. Because of the videos, I was able to fully enjoy the tour a lot more and appreciate my surroundings. The entrance and tour begins on the lower level where they also have a small exhibition illustrating the Eastern European Jewish migration in the 19th and 20th century and their adjustment to life in NYC. It's funny how the exterior of this synagogue resembles the one in Brussels, Belgium, where many of them fled to and departed for the Americas. The synagogue itself will take your breath away once you walk up to the ground floor. The eye-opening circular stained glass window in front is beautiful and mesmerizing with the Star of David in the center. Admissions is $10 ($8 for students) and pay-as-you-wish on Mondays. They have tours on the hour and are opened 10am-5pm with shorter hours on Friday and Saturday off for the Sabbath. Don't forget to come 20 minutes before the hour to watch the videos! Note: Yelp check-in offer is 25% off admissions but only on for Tues-Thurs. read more

See all

Free on Mondays or with a Yelp check-in. This beautiful still-active synagogue is a living museum with an extant congregation; not a dusty relic. It is a beautiful place to learn about Eastern European Jews and their NYC roots (this being the first synagogue in America build by Jews of Eastern Europe). Visit on a sunny day: the magic of the stained glass will take your breath away. read more

The Museum at Eldridge Street was a completely unexpected highlight to our trip to New York's Lower East Side. After a remarkable visit to the Tenement Museum (which I highly recommend) we walked several long blocks to the Museum at Eldridge Street, which is tucked into 12 Eldridge Street in Chinatown to do a little more history diving. The entrance is non-assuming, and steps down into the basement of the building, but those who take the passageway are well rewarded. The interior of this historic Lower East Side Synagogue is the best kind of time travel: a gorgeous restoration, a moment in time perfectly preserved, complete with lattice woven wood carvings and a spectacular modern stained glass. A perfect visit to the past, to your roots, and to the history of New York. read more