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Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site Photography Guide

National Historic Site · New York

  • Bortle 9
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: September

Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in New York. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.

The Tenement Museum tells the stories of working-class tenement residents, who moved to New York City from other countries and other parts of the country. Their work helped build the city and nation, and their stories help us understand our history. The museum shares these stories through guided tours of recreated tenement apartments, neighborhood walking tours, and virtual tours and programs.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 9
Inner-city sky
Clearest month
September
48% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Chinatown
600 m

Light at Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Live
Sunrise
7:13 AM
Sunset
6:10 PM
Golden hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:51 AM
Golden hour PM
5:32 PM – 6:27 PM
Blue hour AM
6:45 AM – 6:56 AM
Blue hour PM
6:27 PM – 6:37 PM
Full darkness
7:41 PM – 5:43 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:25 PM / 1:08 AM
Day length
10h 57m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Lower East Side Tenement Museum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:19 AM8:01 AM4:11 PM4:53 PM243°9h 35m
February6:51 AM7:29 AM4:53 PM5:31 PM254°10h 40m
March7:09 AM7:45 AM6:27 PM7:03 PM268°11h 54m
April6:18 AM6:55 AM6:59 PM7:35 PM284°13h 17m
May5:40 AM6:19 AM7:27 PM8:07 PM296°14h 27m
June5:25 AM6:06 AM7:48 PM8:30 PM302°15h 05m
July5:38 AM6:18 AM7:47 PM8:27 PM300°14h 49m
August6:07 AM6:45 AM7:18 PM7:56 PM290°13h 49m
September6:37 AM7:13 AM6:31 PM7:07 PM275°12h 30m
October7:08 AM7:45 AM5:40 PM6:17 PM260°11h 10m
November6:44 AM7:24 AM3:59 PM4:39 PM246°9h 56m
December7:14 AM7:57 AM3:47 PM4:30 PM240°9h 16m

Computed for the park's reference point (40.7188, -73.9900); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Lower East Side Tenement Museum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:13 AM – 5:13 AM0.011°
March4:24 AM – 5:34 AM1.217°
April2:24 AM – 4:34 AM2.220°
May12:19 AM – 3:39 AM3.320°
June10:36 PM – 3:16 AM4.720°
July10:27 PM – 1:47 AM3.320°
August9:39 PM – 11:49 PM2.220°
September8:40 PM – 9:50 PM1.217°
October7:48 PM – 7:48 PM0.011°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.

Weather & best time to visit

Check out the 10 day forecast for New York City!

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Entrance feeCost (USD)
Timed Entry Reservation - Location$30.00
Timed Entry Reservation - Location$30.00

Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.

Getting there

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, is located at 97 and 103 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City,.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Guided Tours
  • Living History
  • First Person Interpretation
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Nearby parks

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Lower East Side Tenement Museum?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Lower East Side Tenement Museum?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Lower East Side Tenement Museum?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 9.
What time is sunset in Lower East Side Tenement Museum?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:17 PM local time; see the live widget for today.