Irish American Heritage Month was first celebrated in March in the U.S. in 1991 to recognize and celebrate the contributions Irish Americans have made to the United States. However, life was not always easy for Irish immigrants trying to make a life for themselves in America in the late 19th century.

The Tenement Museum, a restored tenement building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan that was home to immigrant families between the 1860s and 1930s, was founded to tell the story of working class people. Artifacts have been recovered at the site through archaeology, preservation, and restoration projects, allowing for research into the history of the building and its residents.

To highlight what life was like for Irish immigrants, the museum offers an Irish Outsiders tour of 97 Orchard Street, where Irish Catholics Bridget and Joseph Moore lived briefly with their three children in 1869.

The Lower East Side is usually linked to the Jewish community, but the museum looks at that area across time to explore how a neighborhood changes and evolves. When the Moores lived there, most of their neighbors were German. The Moore’s apartment was recreated as it stood in 1869 and showcases the family’s Irish traditions, culture, and faith.

“The Irish Outsiders tour presents some important lessons for understanding our present moment in history in the United States,” said Kat Lloyd, museum director of programs. “The Irish were the largest immigrant population of the time and the first targets of xenophobia. We talk about how their story of overcoming challenges shows how we form our identity as a community.”

Lloyd said museum visitors connect to the experience of discrimination likely faced by the Moores and what it takes to go from an outsider to an insider.

“This one moment of this family’s life is important for understanding how we have the U.S. we have today,” Lloyd said. “There’s something very human about standing in someone’s living room that opens people up to talking about our daily lives. All of our stories are important. Our stories are part of American history.”

About 50,000 people take the Irish Outsiders tour each year, which is offered five to 10 times a day. To find out more about the museum and the tours offered, visit https://www.tenement.org/.

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