NYC Garbage and Rats Historical Walking Tour

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 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!

What's included:

• This experience includes a guided walking tour.

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Wall Street

New York City, 10005, New York

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.

15 minutes

South Street Seaport Historic District

12-14 Fulton St. between Water & South Streets, , New York

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.

45 minutes

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.

25 minutes

City Hall Area

New York City, New York

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.

20 minutes

Tweed Courthouse

City Hall Park, , New York City, 10001, New York

The tour ends at Tweed Courthouse, wrapping up with the current status of garbage and rats in NYC today.

15 minutes