New York City is home to the largest district steam system in the world, with more customers served than the next nine systems combined. The Upper East Side is home to two of the Con Edison plants that generate that steam, and we will see the exterior of both of them–one underneath the Queensboro Bridge at East 60th St., and the other at East 74th St. Steam customers, including Grand Central Terminal, The Met, and Rockefeller Center, all buy steam from Con Edison.
We’ll also stop by the New York Presbyterian Hospital and learn about the creative cogeneration plant that provides both heat and power to the campus. Guests will learn all about how the system functions, as well as what it looks like when it breaks!
Along the way, with beautiful views of the East River and Roosevelt Island, guests will explore the newly minted East River Greenway and learn about its conception and construction.
Ear pieces are provided to each guest, ensuring everyone hears the guide perfectly, even from a distance!
Cullen Brown is a licensed New York City guide who translates his passion for energy, engineering, and the environment into tours that bring you face-to-face with the infrastructure that makes our lives in NYC possible. His tours (including Powering NYC: East River Ferry Tour and Inwood’s Hidden Infrastructure: Power & Transit Tour) focus on electricity, water, steam, transit, and the people who built and maintain those very systems, and he is thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Untapped New York.
100% refund up to 24 hours prior to the start of your tour.
When canceled less than 24 hours before the start of your tour, we will do our best to reschedule you or issue you a credit to use on any of our upcoming tours. This credit won’t expire until you use it!
The group meets at Tramway Plaza (Manhattan terminal of the Roosevelt Island Tramway)
By Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R to Lexington Ave/59 St Station
How long is the tour?
This tour is 2 hours long.
Where does this tour end?
This tour ends at John Jay Park. Google Map Pin
How strenuous is this tour?
We will cover around 1.75 miles, with the occasional ramp.
Is this tour ADA accessible?
This tour is not ADA accessible. Please email us at [email protected] in order for us to best prepare your visit.
Is this tour mostly indoors or outdoors?
This tour is all outdoors.
