⭐ Scandal. Subterfuge. Street-level rebellion. The real architects of New York City weren’t saints. They were schemers.
Highlights
🏛️ Hear fascinating stories of notorious individuals and organizations that influenced NYC’s evolution
👑 From Hustlers to High Society – How swindlers and racketeers laid the foundations for NYC’s wealthiest dynasties
⚗️ Elixirs, Scams & Secrets – The underground trade in “remedies” that rewired NYC’s future
🏴☠️ Pirates of the Hudson – The shocking ties between legendary outlaws like Captain Kidd and the city’s landmarks
🚔 Cops, Robbers & Corruption – The dark origins of the NYPD, FBI, and the lawmen who played both sides
General Info
📅 Date: Choose in the ticket selector
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturdays; 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Wednesdays
📍 Location: M Social Hotel New York Downtown (formerly Millennium Downtown)
🚨 Meeting Point: Outside the entrance on Church Street (not the Fulton Street entrance)
Description
If you think NYC was built by polite handshakes and zoning meetings, think again. This tour throws you straight into the alleyways of history with the outlaws, hustlers, and political schemers who actually built the bones of the city, one bribe, brawl, and backroom deal at a time.
Forget the gangland clichés. This walking tour uncovers the radical, corrupt, and wildly enterprising figures who shaped New York City, from pirate captains and Wall Street bombers to bank fraudsters, rogue publishers, and NYPD whistleblowers. It’s a crash course in how NYC was built not just by power and politics, but by those who bent the rules, challenged authority, and sometimes blew things up.
 Highlights
🏛️ Hear fascinating stories of notorious individuals and organizations that influenced NYC’s evolution
👑 From Hustlers to High Society – How swindlers and racketeers laid the foundations for NYC’s wealthiest dynasties
⚗️ Elixirs, Scams & Secrets – The underground trade in “remedies” that rewired NYC’s future
🏴☠️ Pirates of the Hudson – The shocking ties between legendary outlaws like Captain Kidd and the city’s landmarks
🚔 Cops, Robbers & Corruption – The dark origins of the NYPD, FBI, and the lawmen who played both sides
General Info
📅 Date: Choose in the ticket selector
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturdays; 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Wednesdays
📍 Location: M Social Hotel New York Downtown (formerly Millennium Downtown)
🚨 Meeting Point: Outside the entrance on Church Street (not the Fulton Street entrance)
Description
If you think NYC was built by polite handshakes and zoning meetings, think again. This tour throws you straight into the alleyways of history with the outlaws, hustlers, and political schemers who actually built the bones of the city, one bribe, brawl, and backroom deal at a time.
Forget the gangland clichés. This walking tour uncovers the radical, corrupt, and wildly enterprising figures who shaped New York City, from pirate captains and Wall Street bombers to bank fraudsters, rogue publishers, and NYPD whistleblowers. It’s a crash course in how NYC was built not just by power and politics, but by those who bent the rules, challenged authority, and sometimes blew things up.
Need help?
Contact SupportSelect date and session
Similar experiences
-  Lt. Petrosino SquareGuided tour of SoHo, Greenwich Village and Meatpacking District in FrenchNew!Nov 3 - Jan 12From $64.00
-   Museum of Sex Museum of SexSuperfunland at the Museum of Sex! Journey Into The Erotic CarnivalOct 31 - Dec 31From $33.00
-   Secret Location New York Secret Location New YorkEast Village Mystery Picnic: Self-Guided Foodie AdventureNew!Nov 8 - Feb 28From $75.00
-  370 7th AveCity of Contrasts Tour-Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and BrooklynNov 1 - Jan 14From $65.00
-  Actors Federal Credit Union - ATMWoodbury Common Premium Outlets Shopping Tour from MidtownNov 1 - Jan 14From $47.00
-  SUMMIT One VanderbiltNew York: Manhattan Highlights Guided Tour + SUMMIT One Vanderbilt EntryNew!Nov 1 - Dec 27From $35.50
-  Randall’s Island end of 103rd Street Footbridge (also known as Wards Island Bridge)Hell Gate Walking TourNew!Nov 2 - Nov 8From $39.00
-   Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal7 Wonders of Midtown in NYC Secret Societies HuntFrom $6.99
-  52 Chambers StThe Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour: "The Brooklyn Revolution!"New!Nov 7 - Dec 19From $53.00
-  Actors Federal Credit Union - ATMBrooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx Contrastes Tour in SpanishNov 1 - Jan 13From $55.00
Discover our top experiences
-  PhiladelphiaCirque du Soleil 2026: LUZIA in Oaks - WaitlistNew!
-   The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture The Sheen Center for Thought & CultureWe call it Flamenco: A Unique Spanish Dance ShowDec 6 - Jan 24From $46.00
-   Monroe, NY Monroe, NYPure Terror Scream Park (Monroe, NY)Oct 31 - Nov 2From $58.96
-   415 Broadway 415 BroadwayHaunted NYC BankNew!Oct 31 - Nov 2From $48.06
-  ARTECHOUSE NYCSUBMERGENew!Oct 31 - Dec 14From $26.96
-   Westchester's Winter Wonderland, Kensico Dam Plaza Westchester's Winter Wonderland, Kensico Dam PlazaWestchester's Winter WonderlandNew!Nov 21 - Dec 31From $38.43
-  Blood ManorBlood ManorOct 31 - Nov 8From $53.98From $46.16
-   New York Botanical Garden New York Botanical GardenHoliday Train Nights at NYBGNew!Nov 22 - Jan 10
-   Carmine's - Time Square Carmine's - Time SquareSpeakeasy, Die Softly: Immersive Murder Mystery at Carmine’sNew!Nov 1 - Nov 30From $139.95
-  9/11 Memorial & Museum9/11 Memorial & Museum: Entry TicketOct 31 - Apr 29From $36.00
-   New York Botanical Garden New York Botanical GardenDisney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light TrailOct 31 - Nov 30From $16.98
-   Jersey City Jersey CityBubble Planet: An Immersive Experience at American DreamOct 31 - Dec 31From $23.90
-  10 Columbus CirPassport to SantaNew!Nov 15 - Dec 31From $37.65
-   Arte Museum New York Arte Museum New YorkARTE MUSEUM: An Immersive Media Art ExhibitionOct 31 - Jan 31From $35.00
-  Brooklyn StorehouseTeksupport: Layton Giordani + moreNew!Mar 7From $67.67
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 