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NYC Trash Tour: Rats and Garbage History
4.9
96 Ratings
New York
Explore NYC’s trashy past and rat-filled present on a unique walking tour. Discover history, science, and urban legends with an expert guide.
Explore NYC’s trashy past and rat-filled present on a unique walking tour. Discover history, science, and urban legends with an expert guide.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Wall Street - The tour begins at Wall Street, where its historical significance as a dumping ground in Nieuw Amsterdam and its role as a marketplace for the trade and rental of enslaved African individuals will be explored.
- South Street Seaport Historic District - As the tour progresses along South Street, the history of waste management,…
- Wall Street - The tour begins at Wall Street, where its historical significance as a dumping ground in Nieuw Amsterdam and its role as a marketplace for the trade and rental of enslaved African individuals will be explored.
- South Street Seaport Historic District - As the tour progresses along South Street, the history of waste management, landfill, and the presence of rats will be discussed, along with the legacy of the former Fulton Street Fish Market. A stop will be made at the previous location of Sportsman’s Hall, known for “rat pit” events, to delve into the history of rat fights.
- DeLury Square - The visit to DeLury Square will cover the 1968 garbage strike, the contributions of John DeLury, and the Sanitation Union. The tour will then proceed through the historic Ryder and Eden Alleys.
- City Hall Area - Continuing up Ann Street, the site of a notorious rat attack in 1979, the tour will move into Theatre Alley and City Hall Park, offering insights into more rat-related stories and intriguing trash facts.
What's Included
- This experience includes a guided walking tour.
- Max 15 people per tour for an intimate experience
- This experience includes a guided walking tour.
- Max 15 people per tour for an intimate experience
What's Not Included
- Bottled water
- Bottled water
Additional Information
The Garbage and Rats in NYC Walking Tour offers a fascinating exploration into some gritty topics:
- the foundation of New York City on waste;
- the way rats flourish due to human consumption;
-
and the city’s historical approach to managing these unsanitary, disease-inducing issues since 1626.
Participants will discover insights into rat biology and…
The Garbage and Rats in NYC Walking Tour offers a fascinating exploration into some gritty topics:
- the foundation of New York City on waste;
- the way rats flourish due to human consumption;
- and the city’s historical approach to managing these unsanitary, disease-inducing issues since 1626.
Participants will discover insights into rat biology and behavior, waste management systems, metaphorical rats (such as corrupt individuals), and intriguing tales involving all these elements. This tour beautifully merges science and history!
The tour guide is an alumna of the New York City Trash Academy, the New York City Rat Academy, and a proud member of the New York City Rat Pack, “an elite group of committed anti-rat advocates.” Her enthusiasm for rats, waste, and New York City’s history is unmatched!
Please be aware: While rat sightings are not guaranteed during the tour, everyone will gain valuable knowledge about NYC’s extensive history with waste and rats!
Location
Wall Street & Pearl Street
We will meet on the southeast corner of Wall Street and Pearl Street (in front of the Hyatt Hotel). The guide will have a sign for Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(96 Ratings)
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Zo_b170
Jan 18, 2026
Entertaining and informative for visitors and locals alike - This tour was an awesome way to learn about some of the early European history of New York City through the lens of some of our most reviled yet fiercest residents. Suzanne us super knowledgeable and also makes the tour really fun with dashes of classic New York snark. I would recommend this tour to anyone - not just tourists. My friends and I all live in New York and had a blast, notwithstanding some truly heinous January weather. You rock Suzanne! Never change!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jorgelz8500bv
Jan 5, 2026
10/10 Boom Boom Boom!! - Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. This was our first time here, from Texas, and this was a great was to explore the bottom of manhattan and learn about some sanitation History! She was able to answer all of our questions, and overall, she showed a genuine care about our experience and wellbeing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kayleem477
Jan 5, 2026
Learned so much about the history of trash and rats - The tour was incredibly interesting! There is so much history about our trash in the Financial District that I never even knew. Thank you thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist17304674558
Dec 22, 2025
Fun, unique experience, Led with flair - Fun, educational and unique! The guide was quite knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the topic. The furry underbelly of lower Manhattan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul
Dec 19, 2025
Rattastic tour. - Suzanne rocks! She was absolutely amazing, extremely friendly, fun to be around, and very knowledgeable. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect for this tour, but I was blown away with how much history of the city we got. She also told us how the challenges of trash management and rats are intertwined and how they effected the history of the city.
Thank you Suzanne.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie
Dec 18, 2025
Do it, it’s quirky and fun! - This tour was the highlight of my families trip to nyc! Suzanne made it so fun and she was so knowledgeable- it was awesome! We highly recommend it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tom
Dec 18, 2025
Informative and insightful. - Just a fantastic walking tour. It offered so many insights into how rats and garbage have influenced the City's development and probably always will. Suzanne was knowledgeable, engaging, and personable. Walking tours are so important in learning about a place, and this one excels.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marinaaq4637nl
Dec 15, 2025
history of nyc sanitation & rats - The guide is very knowledgeable about the history of NYC sanitation and its relation to the past and current city rat problem. It was very cold out in December but overall was a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paular2778ut
Dec 11, 2025
One person's trash is another's... - Treasure! Fantastic tour led by a guide who truly cares about the subject matter. The content was entertaining throughout. It sounds cliché but I'll never see the city the same way again after this tour. Things I used to casually pass by without second thought have a whole new meaning and understanding now. By the end of the tour, you'll be questioning who's the true vermin of this story.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onair399673
Dec 10, 2025
Fun, informative, new perspective - Fun and informative. Who knew NYC had such a long history with garbage and rats? I highly recommend this experience. Watch out for those rat treats on the sidewalks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
