You Can Finally Take a Tour of the Woolworth Building’s Majestic Lobby
July 13, 2026
The Woolworth Building (233 Broadway) is one of Lower Manhattan’s greatest treasures. The 800-foot Gothic-inspired masterpiece, which towers above City Hall Park, is a work of art, boasting intricate terracotta details on its facade that make it instantly recognizable as an NYC icon. Even more impressive is the building’s lobby, featuring an arcade of marble walls, bronze Gothic filigree and unrivaled mosaics, along with gargoyle-esque sculpted caricatures of architect Cass Gilbert, structural engineer Gunwald Aus and patron Frank Woolworth, who famously paid for the building’s $13.5 million construction in cash. And you can get a firsthand look at the marvels inside the Woolworth, via storied tour guides and bonafide Woolworth Building experts Bob Gelber and Ed Welter.
Back after a six-year hiatus, Gelber and Welter will take you through the jaw-dropping lobby, pointing out hidden secrets and gems lurking in the “Cathedral of Commerce”’s spectacular architecture. They’ll also dig into the building’s history and lore, which includes unspooling tales of the larger-than-life Woolworth himself. Gelber says telling Woolworth stories is his favorite part of the tour. “He was absolutely remarkable,” Gelber, who has been a tour guide for 20 years, said. “He was an amazing person, and he’s what makes the tour fun.”
While the Woolworth Building still has office and retail tenants (with more to come in the near-ish future — stay tuned!), there is no public access to the building, making these 90-minute tours the only way to get a firsthand look inside. Tours are $45 each and run on weekends and one night a week; you can book through Untapped New York or via woolworthtoursnyc.com.
