Little Syria on Manhattan’s Lower West Side was the first major Arab Settlement in the United States. In conjunction with an Arab American Museum exhibition at The Metropolitan College of New York, Joe Svehlak will guide us through what remains of one of New York’s oldest melting pot immigrant communities, home to his own Moravian ancestors. To be seen are the former St. George’s Syrian Melkite Church, Down-town Community House and a few federal townhouses and tenements that remain. The tour will end at the “Little Syria “exhibit.

Joe Svehlak, is a native New Yorker, urban historian and preservationist. As a teenage messenger in the 1950s, Joe walked the streets of a different Lower Manhattan. Joe is a preservation advocate for all parts of New York City and remains active with many downtown Manhattan groups including “Friends of the Lower West Side.” Joe is a licensed NYC tour guide with his own custom tour business.

Paid reservations are required for all tours.
This walking tour is limited to 30 participants. $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
Paid reservations must be received by Wednesday, March 15.
Meeting places will be provided with reservation confirmations.
No refunds will be made for cancellations.

Checks payable to Metropolitan Chapter VSA and should be mailed to:
Tours, Metropolitan Chapter of Victorian Society in America
c/o Village Alliance
8 East 8th Street
New York, NY 10003

Online Payment can be made here

Participants in our educational tours must be in excellent health and able to participate safely in the activities involved. If you have any doubt about your ability to participate fully due to health conditions or disabilities, contact Victorian Society New York at info@vicsocny.org or (212) 886-3742. Victorian Society New York reserves the right to decline to accept or refuse to retain any person as a member of our tours at any time.