Virtual Group Tours

Life in 19th Century New York City

The Merchant’s House is “the real thing,” like no other. Book your Private Group Tour now.


“As if the family has just stepped out”               “Feels like time travel”
“A gem of a tour”               “Meticulously preserved”               “One of a kind”
         TripAdvisor.com visitor reviews

Tour Policies

Email programs@merchantshouse.org to schedule your tour.

Private virtual tours are the perfect way to hang out remotely with family and friends and explore history while social distancing.

  • Virtual Tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance.
  • Virtual Tours can be scheduled weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Weekends or Evenings by special arrangement.
  • $100 for groups up to 15 people.
  • $150 for groups of 16-30 people
  • $200 for groups of 31-60 people.
  • $250 for groups of 61-100 people.
  • Pre-payment is required. Fee is refundable up to one week before your tour.
  • Discounts are available for Title 1 Schools.

Photo by Denis Vlasov

Virtual Tour Options

Life at Home in Old New York Virtual House Tour

Discover what daily life was really like for a wealthy merchant-class family and their Irish servants in the mid-19th century, when New York City evolved from a seaport to a thriving metropolis. This virtual presentation covers four floors in this landmark late-Federal and Greek Revival style rowhouse, its period rooms filled with the family’s original possessions. 60-75 minutes.

The Tredwells’ World:
New York City in 1835

Join Museum Historian Ann Haddad and explore the Tredwells’ neighborhood and city as it was in 1835, the year that Seabury Tredwell purchased the Merchant’s House and moved in with his wife, Eliza, their seven children, and Irish servants. What did New York look like in 1835, and how did it get that way? From transportation and infrastructure, to shopping and entertainment, you’ll see the city as the Tredwells did as they began their residency on Fourth Street. 75-90 minutes.

In the Footsteps of Bridget Murphy:
The Life of an Irish Servant

This “back-stairs” tour tells the heroic story of the Irish women who worked in domestic service in 19th century New York. You’ll visit four floors of period rooms, from the ground floor kitchen to the 4th floor servants’ quarters, experiencing what daily life was really like for the Tredwells’ Irish servants. 75-90 minutes.

Coming Soon

At the Tredwells’ Table:
A Culinary Tour of the Merchant’s House

This unique tour focuses on the culinary customs of mid-19th century New York, including favorite foods, cooking methods, dining etiquette, and entertaining. From grocery shopping and cookbook authors, to elaborate dinner parties and receptions, to the Irish servants’ experiences with food, this tour provides an unparalleled look at the Tredwells’ culinary world. 75-90 minutes.