East Village Ghosts

A haunting history of this legendary neighborhood, told through a ghostly lens

The East Village is legendary in its own right, known for its unique cultural history spanning from the 17th century Dutch colony to the rich immigrant history of the 19th and early 20th centuries, up to its punk scenes of the 1970s and 80s and more recent, gentrified, iterations. Throughout all this tumultuous history, one thing has remained unchanged: it is very, very haunted.

This tour presents a haunting history of the neighborhood, reflecting its changing scenes and colorful characters through a ghostly lens. You’ll hear all about the one-legged phantom of Peter Stuyvesant, discover some crabby spectral librarians at the former Astor Library (now Joe’s Public Theater), debate the existence of the afterlife on Harry Houdini’s old stomping grounds, and see one of Manhattan’s most famous genuinely haunted houses.

A fun, slightly creepy, sometimes cheeky look at the collective ghosts of a neighborhood that often flirts on the edge of self-parody, but still contains an undeniable fascination and profound historical significance.

Cemeteries, Local Legends, Magic, Paranormal