This museum is definitely a waste of time and money. They show you a couple of rooms in a semi-derelict building (of which there are many on the lower east side and in Brooklyn) and try to convey a sense of how tough folks had it when they came to the USA in the 19th and 20th centuries but the conditions are really not that bad considering what people left behind in Europe and there wee opportunities available in the USA which were more restricted in Europe. I left the tour with a strong feeling that I could have got better value elsewhere for my $17.00.

If you want to understand NY, you have to come and see this museum. You can visit real apartments where real people lived. You get a full picture of NY life 200-100 years ago.

It was great museum, very realistic and true to the time period. Worth checking out if you're interested in Manhattan's history and/or tenements.

Really brings the history of immigrants to this city alive. I would recommend it to all.

My older daughter had to visit a NY site that was important in NY history. I suggested the Tenement Museum from what I had heard about it in the past. My 2 daughters and I went (very easy to get to using public transportation) and it was an eye opening experience. We took the Confino apartment tour. There was 1 man who joined our group and the 4 of us became an instant family. We were given a look at what life was like. Our clothes were not appropriate; we would need to find jobs that paid well; we were told to take in borders to help pay for the rent, since we had such a small family... A look at what (little) they had made you appreciate all that we do have today. It was great and we're already planning another trip back to go on one of the other tours offered.