MuseumLower East Side
Museum on Eldridge Street
Be immersed in the Jewish history of the Lower East Side in this tenderly restored synagogue, where downtown artists weave the neighborhood’s past into shows and the building itself.
Why we it
Built in 1887 by Jewish immigrants seeking refuge and renewal, this synagogue-turned-museum is a radiant emblem of faith, aspiration, and reinvention, and a calm, light-filled refuge amid the bustle of the Lower East Side.
Step inside and sink into the beauty and history of this iconic space, where the ceiling sparkles with stars, Moorish accents sing, and a blue Rose Window of a sparkling celestial sky by world-renowned artist Kiki Smith and architect Deborah Gans mesmerizes.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the space is used for worship, schoolchildren's art classes, concerts, and guided tours. When there are exhibitions, they’re woven into themes of Jewish Culture and aspiration, or they celebrate the neighborhood's history and enduring spirit, which still feels much as it did in 1887.
About Museum on Eldridge Street
Built in 1887 by the celebrated Herter Brothers architectural firm, the Eldridge Street Synagogue quickly became a cornerstone of Jewish life on the Lower East Side, where more than half a million immigrants from Eastern Europe sought safety and new beginnings. By the mid-twentieth century, families had moved uptown and outward, and the synagogue fell into disrepair. After decades of decline, a meticulous restoration led by architects Walter Sedovic and Jill H. Gotthelf revived its former glory. It reopened in 2007, a sanctuary once more, this time for art, history, and wonder.
