Merchant's House Museum

Guided Tours & Presentations

Guided Tour - 60-90 minutes
Explore Manhattan's "best-preserved" (The New York Times) 19th-century home and learn about life in New York City in the 1850s.

Walking Tour - 60 minutes
Trace the footsteps of 19th-century New Yorkers and see how the neighborhood surrounding the Merchant's House Museum evolved from a refined residential enclave -- the Bond Street Area -- into a busy commercial center. You'll visit NYC landmark buildings built throughout the 19th-century on this tour through 21st century NoHo.

Tours with Afternoon Tea

Return to a more gracious time as "the mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose."

Afternoon tea at the Merchant's House is served in true 19th-century style, in the ground floor family room and period kitchen, or, weather permitting, the historic garden. The two-hour program includes a 45-minute guided tour of the Museum as well as a leisurely and elegant hour-long afternoon tea with full table service.

Afternoon Tea Menu
Traditional afternoon tea is the equivalent of a light meal, including:

• A selection of savory tea sandwiches (vegetarian available by request)
• Scottish scones accompanied by fresh cream and a variety of jams and jellies
• Miniature cakes, cookies, and other delicacies
• Pots of freshly brewed tea, including the fragrant ‘Tredwell’ blend

Custom menus and themes are available; call for information and pricing.

Receptions

The elegant rooms and historic garden at the Merchant's House Museum were perfect for entertaining guests in the 19th-century — and they are just as pleasant for that purpose today.

A two-hour reception includes your choice of light hors d'oeuvres and beverages, served on the Museum's ground floor, or, weather permitting, in the historic garden. Although food is not permitted on the parlor or bedroom floor, those rooms will be open for touring throughout the event — with knowledable docents on hand to answer questions.

Have something else in mind? You can also Rent the House and Garden and design your own event.

Reservations & Pricing

Group programs are available at the Merchant's House Museum by appointment only.*

Please call 212-777-1089 or email education@merchantshouse.org at least 3 weeks in advance to make a reservation.

Programs are available anytime, including evenings and weekends (an additional fee may apply), however we reccomend scheduling group visits during the times when the Museum is closed to the public: weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, or anytime Tuesday or Wednesday.

* Groups of 10 or more who arrive without a reservation may be turned away.

Program Prices

There is a minimum charge equal to 10 admissions for all programs.

• Guided Tour (up to 50 people) - $15, $10 Students & Seniors* (per person)
• Walking Tour (up to 50 people) - $15, $10 Students & Seniors (per person)
• Afternoon Tea (up to 36 people) - $60 (per person)
• Receptions (up to 100 people) - varies, call for information

* Groups receiving a student discount must be sponsored by an acredited academic organization. Seniors are 65 and older. Discounts are also available for professional tour organizers and groups funded by the City of New York.