exclusive tour
Ellis Island Hospital Hard Hat Tour
Behind-the-scenes hard hat tour inside Ellis Island Contagious Disease Hospital, abandoned since 1954, and once also used as an FBI detention center
Edison, Tesla & NYC's First Electric Grid Tour
- 2 hours
- $39
- Up to 15 guests
- Flexible Cancellations
Tour Highlights
- Stand at the spot where Edison’s first central power plant in NYC ushered in the electric age with the world’s first commercial electric grid
- Visit the site of Nikola Tesla’s first laboratory, where he patented his most important electric invention
- See the first building to have fast electric elevators, giving rise to the skyscraper and the world’s first modern office district in Manhattan
- Find out who had the first electrified home in NYC
- Untangle the drama between Edison, Tesla, and J.P. Morgan, and separate fact from fiction in the power struggle that shaped our wired world
❤️ Ticket sales benefit The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative!
Want this experience exclusively for your group?
About This Tour:
On September 4, 1882, Thomas Edison flipped the switch on the world’s first electric grid—right here in Lower Manhattan. This electrifying tour and history talk traces how that moment sparked a global revolution, transforming NYC’s gas-lit streets into glittering thoroughfares of skyscrapers illuminated by electric lights. You’ll follow in the footsteps of a young Nikola Tesla, who arrived in 1884 to work for Edison. Dive into the drama that caused Tesla to shockingly break away from Edison and create his own electric innovations. We’ll explore how electricity helped NYC reach new heights as elevators made it possible for buildings and people to rise higher than ever before. It’s a tour of brilliant minds, bold ideas, and the literal power that built the city.
About Your Guide:
Rich Miller was previously NYC Energy Policy Chief (1998-2003) and recently retired as Vice-President for Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison. He has authored articles on New York City’s significant role in the early history of electricity.
Cancellation Policy
Meeting Location
How to Get There?
FAQ
Cancellation Policy
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!
Meeting Location
The group meets in front of the Pearl Street playground on Fulton Street in Lower
Manhattan.
How to Get There?
By Subway: A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to Fulton Center then 5 minute walk
FAQ
How long is the tour?
This tour is 2 hours long.
Where does this tour end?
It ends at the Beaver Building at the corner of Wall, Beaver, and Pearl Streets.
How strenuous is this tour?
This tour is easy and most people can participate.
Is this tour ADA accessible?
Yes, it is! You can email us at [email protected] in order for us to best prepare your visit.
Is this tour mostly indoors or outdoors?
This tour is mostly outdoors.
Any Questions? We're here to help!
Ready to Explore?
Other walking tours you may like:
Comments are closed.