Smithsonian Institution. The Endeavour Botanical Illustrations at the Natural History Museum. Natural History Museum. Dioramas. Museums Online. The British Museum Images. Scitech Museum Aurora. Oriental institute. Notebaert Nature Museum. Museum of Science and Industry. Field Museum. Museum. Like other early tenements, 97 Orchard Street was a sparsely appointed building.
It lacked gas for light and heat, indoor toilets and running water. But, in 1867, New York City began passing legislation to improve conditions in tenements. The ensuing wave of housing laws prompted the landlord of 97 Orchard Street to install gas lines, running water and interior flush toilets. By the early 1900s, he had also transformed the building's entryway, dressing it up with tile floors, burlap wall coverings, pressed metal ceilings and oil paintings. Smithsonian. Museums Online. Museum of Science Boston. Museum of Modern Art. Exploratorium.