The Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum on the lower east side of Manhattan takes us back through history to the late 1800s when large families lived in small apartments, four two a floor, with at the turn of the century the vast improvement from three shared outhouses in the back to two shared toilets on each floor.  At about that same time the fireplaces in each apartment were closed up because too many buildings burned down.  And at about that same time codes began to form to keep sweat shops from operating in the homes.  As many residents of each apartment could work long hours in their own homes producing garments.  However, if a non resident worked out of the apartment the place was declared a sweat ship and had to meet certain requirements none of which prevented in 1911 the fire at the Triangle Shirt Waist factory.  At any rate, the Tenement Museum is a good place to walk through history.