Walking Tour: Love & Courtship on the Lower East Side

Experience the romance and social life of the Lower East Side a century ago on this special Valentine’s Day weekend tour. Step into the world of Jewish immigrants as they navigated the balance between old traditions and new American customs. Explore the ways people met, courted, and celebrated love in a bustling neighborhood filled with factories, tenements, and social halls. Learn how families arranged marriages while young people also sought their own matches at dance halls, workplaces, and community gatherings. The tour offers a glimpse into the personal lives and heartfelt stories of a community forging new beginnings in a rapidly changing city.

Discover how letters, dances, and everyday encounters shaped relationships and built connections among immigrants. Explore the customs, rituals, and social rules that influenced love, courtship, and marriage at the time. Experience the tension between preserving heritage and embracing freedom in a new country. Learn about the evolving roles of young people in shaping their own romantic destinies while still honoring family expectations. This guided journey provides insight into the human side of history, connecting visitors with intimate stories of hope, desire, and connection that transcended generations.