Step back into history and discover how Edison and Tesla transformed New York City with the first electric grid. Join this engaging tour for a fascinating look at innovation’s impact on urban life.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
2–3 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for all fitness levels, as walking is moderate.
Wildlife
History
This tour traces the pivotal moments in electrical engineering, highlighting Tesla's alternating current and Edison’s direct current rivalry, which fundamentally changed urban infrastructure.
Conservation
Participants are encouraged to respect historic sites and minimize trash to help preserve NYC’s vibrant history and architecture.
Untapped New York
Step back into history and discover how Edison and Tesla transformed New York City with the first electric grid. Join this engaging tour for a fascinating look at innovation’s impact on urban life.
Untapped New York is a specialist tour operator based in Jersey City, New Jersey, offering immersive, history-focused experiences across the New York metropolitan area. The company curates guided walking tours, hard hat access trips, private tours, and urban exploration itineraries that reveal hidden architecture, abandoned spaces, and lesser-known cultural stories. Signature experiences include private tours of remnants of Old Penn Station with photographic documentation from noted photographers and railroad historians; Secrets of Grand Central led by award-winning guides; and multiple Ellis Island Hospital hard hat tours that explore century-old contagious disease wards, autopsy rooms, and JR’s "Unframed" exhibition. Other offerings include underground subway explorations, Gilded Age mansions walks along Fifth Avenue, and thematic cultural routes such as NYC’s Irish History Tour.
Tours are presented as focused, small-group experiences—private and public—designed for visitors and locals who want deep historical context and rare access. Untapped New York highlights tangible artifacts and architectural remnants, combining storytelling with visual materials to enrich each tour. The company works with specialist guides, photographers, and historians to document locations factually and compellingly. Booking options include private tours and scheduled public departures for select trips. Whether exploring abandoned hospital wards, hidden stations, or the opulent façades of Millionaire’s Row, Untapped New York emphasizes archival research, expert-led narration, and unique on-site photographs to convey the layered history of New York’s built environment. Scheduled experiences feature Remnants of Penn Station, Secrets of Grand Central, Ellis Island Hospital Hard Hat Tours, NYC’s Underground Subway Tour, Fifth Avenue Gilded Age mansion walks.
Tours Offered
11 Tours
Diverse urban and historical experiences.
Private Options
Available
Private and group bookings offered.
Expert Guides
Award-winning
Guides, historians, and photographers collaborate.
Locations
Jersey City, NJ + NYC
Based in Jersey City, tours across NYC.
Book a private tour or join a scheduled departure to explore Penn Station remnants, Grand Central secrets, Ellis Island, and more.
Wear comfortable walking shoes
This tour involves walking through city streets and historic sites.
Bring a camera or smartphone
Capture historic landmarks and inspiring moments along the route.
Stay hydrated
Bring water for the walk, especially on warm days.
Prepare for weather
Check the forecast and dress accordingly; rain gear if needed.
Comfortable walking shoes
Necessary for walking city streets comfortably.
Water bottle
Stay hydrated during the outdoor walk.
Camera or smartphone with good battery
Capture historic sites and memorable moments.
Rain jacket or umbrella
Be prepared for unexpected weather changes.
spring|summer|fall|winter