Feeling Adventurous? Explore These Downtown Spots During Open House New York 

Have you ever wanted an exclusive look at the Manhattan Borough President’s office? Or the chance to spend a few hours at the site of New York’s first City Hall? Or the opportunity to learn more about the African Burial Ground National Monument? This weekend, New Yorkers can explore hundreds of unique spaces throughout the city during Open House New York. The annual event allows attendees to get a behind-the-scenes look at spaces that normally aren’t open to the public, including factories, airport hangars and innovative workspaces. Additionally, many museums and monuments are offering special programming and tours as part of the program. 

Several of the events required visitors to enter a lottery for tickets, but don’t worry if you missed the window. There are plenty of non-ticketed events happening in Lower Manhattan and on Governors Island as part of the series, which runs from October 20 to 22. We’ve highlighted some noteworthy ones below: 

African Burial Ground National Monument
290 Broadway
Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Manhattan Borough President’s Office Map Display
1 Centre Street Mezzanine (North Entrance)
Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Walt Whitman-Susan Tane Reading Library at Fulton Stall Market
91 South St. 
Saturday, October 21, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Federal Hall 
26 Wall St. (entrance at 15 Pine St.)
Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Castle Clinton National Monument
Battery Park
Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, rangers give tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

The Skyscraper Museum 
39 Battery Pl. 
Saturday, October 21, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Downtown Manhattan Monuments & Memorials: Contemporary, Radical, Invisible 
9/11 Memorial at corner of Liberty and Greenwich streets
Self-guided tour 

Architecture in Formation, The Architect’s Newspaper, and BJH Real Estate Advisors – Open Studios
25 Park Pl. 422
Sunday, October 22, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WXY – Open Studio
25 Park Pl. 5th floor
Sunday, October 22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fort Jay
Governors Island 
Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Billion Oyster Project: Meet the Oysters 
Governors Island, Nolan Park, Building 16
Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.