Velazquez Announces Bill to Expand National Park Designation for LES Tenement Museum

Washington, DC– Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has introduced legislation, H.R. 1846 the “Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site Amendments Act,” which would expand the LES Tenement Museum’s National Park Service (NPS) designation by including its second historic site at 103 Orchard Street. The Museum’s first historic building at 97 Orchard Street has already been declared a “National Park Service Affiliate Site” in 1998.

“Expanding the LES Tenement Museum’s National Park Service designation will help preserve this local source of history and culture for future generations,” said Velázquez. “This important local gem provides residents and visitors alike with a greater sense of our city’s heritage and I hope to see it grow in the future.”

The Museum plans to open a new exhibit at 103 Orchard Street, presenting the stories of families who lived there after 1945, including Jewish Holocaust survivors, post-1965 Chinese families, and Puerto Rican migrants in the 1950s.

“Already, the LES Tenement Museum is a valuable local resource and attraction,” Velázquez noted. “By building on its success, we can draw more visitors to our community creating additional opportunity for local businesses.”

Prior to its designation as an affiliated side of NPS, the Museum’s historic site at 97 Orchard Street was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The NPS designation has provided critical support for preservation efforts, education workshops and tours, and invaluable preservation expertise throughout the years. With more than 180,000 visitors every year, including 40,000 school children, the Museum has seen a visitor increase of 40% over the past five years. The Museum estimates the expansion would accommodate 50,000 additional people each year, including 12,000 city students.

“I’m proud to support this valuable community institution and look forward to its continued growth,” Velázquez noted.