Garbage and Rats in New York City Walking Tour
Description
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!
Tour Options
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(125)
We had a lovely time. We heard interesting stories about the rats and garbage in the city and we really loved the streets where the tour took place. The guide’s enthousiasm and knowledge made the experience amazing.
Tour guide Suzanne’s expertise, sense of humor and teaching skills made “Rats and Garbage of NYC” an exceptional experience. I now know the functional difference between rat whiskers and the whiskers of cats. My new view of rats? Just spell it backwards!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! They really are remarkable critters.
Fun! Interesting! Mildly horrifying!
LOL! This is a great way to sum it up - thank you.
Suzanne was so knowledgeable and friendly! She had a great amount of information about NYC that even extended beyond the tour! Saw rats even on a rainy day!
Thank you! It was quite the adventure with the weather.
The tour was absolutely perfect our guide had so much knowledge about the surrounding area and we loved every second of it. Plus we got to see a lot of rats! The history about the surrounding area is something we would never have even thought about and we all had a blast!
Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear that you had such a good time! You guys were great!
This garbage tour was a highlight of our four-day visit to NYC! Yes it focuses on rats and garbage (gross) but much of the tour is also devoted to the history of Manhattan and touches on many issues that are relevant today (i.e., immigration, public health, city politics from the 1600s until the present). Suzanne is very knowledgeable and animated when discussing rats and the history of sanitation in NY. This was such a fun, informative, and unique way to spend an afternoon off the beaten path in lower Manhattan. Even my two teenagers who are bored by most things found it interesting, which says something. Highly recommend!!
Thank you so much - I love hearing how much everyone enjoyed it! I am blushing!
So so soooo much fun! Very informative and would 100% recommend : )
Thank you! I love that you had a great time!
This was an awesome tour and great experience! Suzanne was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend!
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your kind response, we were late for the subway! I learned about the history of garbage and rats from the streets near Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge, and I could feel the existence of rats in my daily life. It was also a great pleasure to get a glimpse of one of the city's current rat control measures and see rats! My guide's rat bag, Katyusha, was cute!
Thank you! I am so glad you were able to come, even a little bit late! Having pest control experts is always extra fun for me. I am so glad you enjoyed it, too.
This was great; the guide made it very interesting, with thoughtful reflections on the city's history and the management of leftovers, and some extra trivia-winning knowledge :)
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
