Every October, New York does something that Londoners, Parisians, and even Sydneysiders might envy: It lets the public wander into places usually seen only by security guards, archivists, and the occasional film crew. From Friday, October 17, through Sunday, October 19, Open House New York (OHNY) returns to lift the velvet rope on some of the city’s most remarkable and occasionally eccentric spaces.
This year’s program promises an irresistible mix of heritage, innovation, and pure Manhattan marvel. It’s a chance to see how the city breathes when no one’s watching, from the Hall of Records’ gothic grandeur to the faint scent of seawater that lingers at Castle Clinton, once the nation’s first immigrant processing centre.
Tickets, Treasures, and the Thrill of the Unexpected
Naturally, some of the more exclusive tours have already sold out faster than a Broadway matinee on opening night. The Weekend Launch Party at the Woolworth Building (October 16, 6–9 p.m.) is among them. That’s hardly surprising. Designed in 1913 by architect Cass Gilbert, the Woolworth remains one of the most beloved skyscrapers in the United States. This neo-Gothic marvel makes even the jaded look up in admiration.
For those who prefer something more industrially chic, TYLin’s Office Tour and Steel Design Insights (October 17, with two sessions) offers a peek at how modern engineering shapes the skyline, a fitting nod to the city that quite literally invented it.
But don’t fret if you’ve missed the ticketed events. Open House New York was built on the principle that curiosity should be free — and this year, plenty of drop-in events will keep urban explorers busy.
Exploring the Past: Where History Hums Beneath the Pavement
At the African Burial Ground National Monument, you can visit a space that predates even George Washington’s presidency. The site — unearthed during construction in the early 1990s is a moving reminder of the city’s layered past, where more than 15,000 Africans and African Americans were laid to rest in the 17th and 18th centuries. Free tours will run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Nearby, at Castle Clinton, visitors can explore the Castle Garden Emigrant Depot: Before Ellis, a stirring prequel to Ellis Island. Between 1855 and 1890, more than eight million hopeful newcomers passed through its doors. The circular sandstone fort at Battery Park now tells its stories with quiet dignity, offering tours at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m.
The Present: From Oysters to Urban Cooling
While history buffs get their fill, the environmentally inclined can look toward the future. The Billion Oyster Project: Meet the Oysters runs from October 17–19, inviting the public to learn how a few humble bivalves might help clean New York Harbour. The team’s mission to restore one billion oysters by 2035 might sound ambitious, but as any New Yorker will tell you, ambition is the city’s default setting.
Equally timely is the KlimaKover: Urban Heat Shelter installation, which will be open October 18–19. In a metropolis where summer temperatures can turn a concrete corner into a convection oven, KlimaKover offers a vision of cooler, more resilient city design.
The Icons: Federal Hall, Skyscraper Museum, and the Original Map
If your taste runs to classical architecture, the Federal Hall National Memorial (October 17–19) provides the perfect excuse to channel your inner statesman. George Washington took the oath of office here in 1789, and if the Doric columns could talk, they’d have quite the gossip about democracy’s teething years.
Meanwhile, the Skyscraper Museum keeps the modern marvels grounded in perspective, exploring how ambition measured in floors became the ultimate expression of New York pride. And for a cartographic thrill, don’t miss the Original Map of Manhattan at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office (October 18). Drawn before the city became a concrete jungle, it’s a fragile relic of a wilder island where streams still ran and cows roamed, where Wall Street now rules.
Behind the Bureaucracy: A Peek into the Archives
The NYC Department of Records & Information Services opens its exhibitions on October 17, showcasing everything from vintage city photographs to the paperwork that kept the metropolis functioning through two world wars and several blackouts. It’s bureaucracy as art and proof that even filing cabinets have stories to tell.
A Weekend of Civic Pride and Open Doors
Open House New York is not merely an event; it’s an act of civic generosity. It reminds locals and visitors alike that a great city is built not only of steel and stone but also of stories. Whether you’re standing beneath Woolworth’s vaulted lobby or watching schoolchildren marvel at oysters, you’re part of a living, breathing narrative.
So, grab your camera, lace up your walking shoes, and prepare to be surprised. In New York, even the doors tell stories, and they’ll all be open this October.
By Jason Smith
BIO:
Jason Smith has the kind of story you can’t fake, one built on long flights, new cities, and that unmistakable hum of hotel life that gets under your skin and never quite leaves. Half American, half Asian, he grew up surrounded by the steady rhythm of the tourism trade in the U.S., where his family helped others see the world long before he did.
Eager to carve out his own path, Jason packed his bags for Bangkok and the Asian Institute of Hospitality & Management, where he majored in Hotel Management and found a career and a calling. From there came years on the road, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam — each stop adding another thread to his craft.
He made his mark in Thailand, eventually becoming Director of Sales for one of the country’s leading hotel chains. Then came COVID-19: borders closed, flights grounded, and a new chapter began.
Back home in America, Jason turned his knack for connection into words, joining Global Travel Media to tell the stories behind the check-ins written with the same warmth and honesty that have always defined him.
