The trendy Lower East Side, once the destination neighborhood for arriving waves of immigrants, is now a heritage tourism hotspot.The Lower East Side Conservancy was part of a coalition that persuaded the National Trust for Historic Preservation to declare the Lower East Side an "endangered historic place", at risk of being swallowed up by new hotels and condo towers.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated 25 historic landmarks on the Lower East Side, and another 2,334 buildings are under review for possible designation.
The Chicago Sun-Times calls LES "a fascinating destination" for those interested in history and architecture -- or just food and shopping.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum at 97 Orchard St. is described as a "must-see".
The 1863 building, sealed in 1935 by its landlord -- who didn't want to comply with new housing laws -- remained sealed until the museum bought it in 1996: it was a virtual time capsule.
A visitor from Cleveland who grew up on the LES in the 1930s called the museum a "thrilling" experience.
The 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue at 12 Eldridge St. was the first great house of worship built by Eastern European Jews in the U.S. Last year, after a lengthy $17 million restoration, it opened as Jewish history museum.
The article, as published in the Chicago Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/northamerica/1328994,TRA-News-loweast14.article
The article, as published in the Contra Costa Times:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/travel/ci_11186466
