Third Grade Visits the Tenement Museum
On Thursday, November 1, the third grade traveled downtown to New York City’s Tenement Museum. We arrived a little early, but the weather was glorious: blue skies and a temperature of around 60 degrees, so it was fine for us to line up and wait outside.
Once the museum opened at 10:00 a.m., we were split into groups. I stayed with Ms. Wagner’s boys and we were led into the building by a friendly member of the museum staff into a classroom. There we learned about a character named “Bridget” who had traveled to New York from Ireland in the 1880s. We learned a bit about her life, and how money was tight for many new immigrants. They learned to recycle household items so that they could be used for other purposes. The boys then used various items that could easily have been seen as items of trash, to create something new and fun.
After this classroom session, we were taken back out of the museum, around the corner, and in through another entrance. This is the side of the building that has been made safe for visitors, but has not been restored. As we entered, the boys were fascinated by the cracked, crumbling walls and yellowing wallpaper. We were soon introduced to “Bridget” who was in her apartment mending clothes. She invited us in and the boys had a chance to ask her questions about her life. They ranged from questions about her husband (who worked in an Irish pub), to what she did in her spare time. “Spare time?! Good Lord! What I would give to have an ounce of spare time!” she replied.
We left Bridget to her many chores and continued to explore the museum with our tour guide. It was interesting to see how people lived 150 years ago, and also how the building had stood up to time, despite its aged appearance.
Soon it was time for us to leave the 19th century world of the Tenement Museum and board our bus back to 98th Street, and the 21st century. But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the boys will return to the Tenement Museum for another fascinating trip into our city’s past.
