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Woolworth Building Exclusive Access Tour
- 90 Minutes
- Small Groups
- Free Cancellation (24h)
- $45 per person
Tour Highlights
- Enter the Cathedral of Commerce: Admire the jaw-dropping grandeur of the Woolworth Building’s lobby with soaring 60-foot high ceilings
- Decode Secret Symbols: Uncover hidden meanings embedded in the building’s intricately detailed mosaics and sculptural ornamentation
- Learn How to Build an Empire: Discover how Frank Woolworth built a fortune large enough to fund the construction of the tallest building in the world
- Gain Exclusive Access: Go downstairs for a peek into the vault, which still contains original safety deposit boxes
Your Own Guide. Your Own Schedule.
Itinerary
Meet Your Guide
Gather outside the opulent Main Entrance to the Woolworth Building, on Broadway, and admire the ornate terracotta details of the facade.
Woolworth Building Lobby
Immerse yourself in the Neo-Gothic grandeur of the lobby as you admire its marble walls, glittering mosaic ceilings, expressive grotesques, and gilded tracery.
Central Staircase
Ascend the grand staircase—which once led to bank offices—for a closer look at the stunning stained glass skylight.
Mezzanine Level
Take in the lobby from a unique perspective and get up close to the shimmering mosaics.
Back Lobby
Venture behind the staircase to uncover the preserved storefront windows of long-gone tenant amenities.
Sub-Level
Descend into the building’s first basement level, where commuters once entered from a now-lost subway entrance.
The Vault
Peek into the bank vault, which still contains original safe deposit boxes.
Tour Ends
The tour concludes inside the lobby where you began.
About This Tour
After a six-year pause, tours of the Woolworth Building have resumed, but public access remains otherwise closed. This is the only authorized tour to step inside its legendary lobby and see the sub-level vault!
Commissioned in 1910 by Frank W. Woolworth and designed by Cass Gilbert, the building opened in 1913 as the tallest in the world, reshaping Lower Manhattan and redefining the American skyscraper.
Beneath soaring 60-foot vaulted ceilings, discover marble walls, mosaic tiles, gold-leaf detailing, and sculptural ornamentation — including hidden likenesses of Woolworth and Gilbert embedded within the architecture.
You’ll also descend to the original vault level, where historic safe deposit boxes remain intact.
Privately managed and otherwise closed to the public, this rare access experience reveals one of New York’s most extraordinary interiors.
About Your Guides
Bob Gelber
After retirement, Bob Gelber became a licensed New York City tour guide to share his deep knowledge of and passion for his hometown. For more than twenty years, he has led visitors through neighborhoods often overlooked by traditional itineraries, combining historical depth with clear and engaging interpretation.
Bob has served as a volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and with Open House New York. A longtime member of the Guides Association of New York City, he has served on its Board of Directors as well as on several key committees. His work throughout Manhattan reflects both institutional knowledge and thoughtful storytelling.
Ed Welter
With more than forty years of experience in the construction industry and over fifteen years in professional tourism, Ed Welter brings a uniquely informed perspective to New York City’s built environment.
He began guiding at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 2010 and later became a senior docent and trainer at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, where he has interpreted the site’s history since its earliest days. A licensed New York City tour guide since 2012, Ed led Woolworth Building tours from 2014 until their pause in 2020 and now returns as the program resumes.
His work throughout Lower Manhattan, including the Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall Park, Five Points, the African Burial Ground, and the history of terrorism in New York, reflects both structural expertise and historical precision.
Cancellation policy
Meeting location
How to get there
FAQ
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour
No refunds for no-shows or late arrivals
Tours run rain or shine
Meeting location
Meet outside the front entrance of the building.
Address: 233 Broadway New York, NY 10279
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Please arrive 10 minutes early.
How to get there
By Subway: 2,3 to Park Place, or E to World Trade Center, or R,W to City Hall
FAQ
Is this tour ADA accessible?
Yes, this tour is ADA accessible. If you require elevator access between levels, arrangements must be made in advance. Please email us at [email protected] ahead of time so we can coordinate with building management.
Where is the meeting location?
Meet outside the front entrance of the Woolworth Building.
233 Broadway New York, NY 10279
Where does it end?
It ends in the lobby of the Woolworth Building.
How long is the tour?
This tour is 1.5 hours long.
What’s included in the ticket?
Included in your ticket are: a guided tour in english led by a local expert New Yorker.
Are there restrooms in the building?
There are no public restroom facilities available during the tour.
What’s not included?
Gratuities (optional)
We kindly request that guests refrain from wandering the lobby or any other areas of the building before, during, or after the guided portion of the experience, in accordance with building regulations.
What should I wear or bring?
Weather appropriate clothing. Comfortable shoes.
What is the cancellation policy?
Full refund for cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour starts. No refund for no-shows or cancellation less than 24 hours before the tour starts
How strenuous is this tour?
This tour is easy and most people can participate.
Is this tour mostly indoors or outdoors?
This tour is mostly indoors making it perfect for rainy or cold days!
Is photography allowed?
Yes, you are welcome to take photos but tripods are prohibited.
Any Questions? We're here to help!
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