Open House in New York: 10 Places to Visit When They're Open Once a Year
'04.10.2024'
ForumDaily New York
Open House New York (OHNY) will be held from October 18 to 20. First launched in 2001, OHNY annually gives New Yorkers the opportunity to gain access to closed attractions. Gothamist published the best places to visit during OHNY 2024.
Each year, several weekends in October are dedicated to giving New Yorkers the opportunity to experience hundreds of the city's most significant and notable buildings and buildings in all five boroughs of the city as part of the Open House New York campaign. Open House is an opportunity to see New York as you have never seen it before.
From hundreds of offers, experts have selected 10 of the coolest places that you will have access to.
Many of these do not require reservations. But some of the most popular offerings are limited access, requiring participants to pay $6 to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations open to the public at 11 a.m. on October 00.
WELCOME Sign
Many New Yorkers may remember the bright red sign WATCHTOWER. It has stood above the Jehovah's Witness complex in Brooklyn Heights for decades. The new sign reads WELCOME was lit for the first time in November 2019, 50 years after the original sign went up. During this special tour, visitors will be allowed to climb to the roof of the building to get a closer look at the new sign.
Visit details – here.
Ravenswood Generating Station
New this year is New York City's largest power plant, which provides more than a fifth of the city's electricity. Learn about the transition of much of the city's infrastructure from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Ticket holders must provide a copy of their ID for a background check. Tickets are available here.
Colossal Media Paint Shop
Colossal Media is the company behind many of New York City's massive, floor-to-ceiling outdoor advertising signs.
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This tour takes visitors behind the scenes at a paint shop in East Williamsburg. More information – here.
New York City Municipal Archives
Librarians, registrars, and archival enthusiasts, beware: This is a rare opportunity to peek into the restricted areas of the city's Department of Records and Information Services. The Sunset Park facility opened in 2021. Visitors will see a selection of archival materials, including photographs, historical records, gifts, and odds and ends from city halls. Visit details – here.
The New York Sign Museum
Have you ever wondered what happens to that great old storefront sign that disappears from your neighborhood after the business closes?
Chances are, it ended up at The New York Sign Museum. Since 2013, it has been collecting signs from places like Queen Restaurant in Brooklyn Heights and the Essex Card Shop on the Lower East Side. The museum is usually by appointment only. OHNY, however, doesn't require reservations, but the space is limited to 15 people at a time, and there may be lines. More details - here.
Barone Steel Fabricators
Visitors must be at least 18 years old to visit this active industrial site in Sunset Park. This is where steel is made. The tour takes participants through every step, from design and drawings to the finished steel product. Safety glasses are provided.
More information – here.
Sugar Factory at Domino Penthouse
If you've been to the Williamsburg Bridge, you've seen the enormous glass dome that towers over the rebuilt Domino Sugar Factory. This tour, hosted by visiting New York City civil engineers, takes a closer look at how this old and new structure was made possible, with stunning views of the city.
Visit details – here.
Nitehawk Prospect Park Rooftop
When else will you have the chance to stand on the roof cinema and see Prospect Park?
Nitehawk Prospect Park's $15 million renovation was completed in 2018. You'll see the solar panels on the roof where this tour ends after seeing some of the building's interior. Details available here.
144 Vanderbilt Avenue
Construction site tours are a staple of any OHNY weekend. One such tour this year is at the construction site of 144 Vanderbilt, an eight-story condominium on the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill border. It features covered outdoor corridors, decks, and walkways, as well as views all the way to the East River. Visitors must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Learn more here.
62 Reade Street
Another construction tour is 62 Reade Street. This ongoing renovation project combines two iconic Tribeca buildings into six residences, including a penthouse with five terraces. If you don’t have eight figures to spend on a home like this, here’s your chance to get a private tour with ODA’s founder and director of interior design.
Visitors must be over 18 years old. Full details are provided. here.