The Tenement Museum

Connecting generations through the Shop Life experience.

The Tenement Museum preserves New York’s story of immigration by interpreting the lives of those who have moved through 97 Orchard Street since 1863. When the museum began archaeological work on the building, they uncovered the stories of over fifty shops that have inhabited 97 Orchard, each leaving their unique mark. This archaeology of history is both the Museum’s biggest asset and its biggest challenge.

To meet this challenge, we created the Shop Life counter: the first interactive installation ever incorporated into the historic Tenement Museum. In so doing, we created an experience that amplifies the unique place-based storytelling that the Museum excels at, and amplifies the human effects and connections between the Tenement Museum staff, the stories of past tenants, and the experiences of visitors.

Shop Life mimics the moment of discovery of an archaeological treasure for its visitors, and builds upon the spirit of commerce to create a “story” shopping experience. When groups of fifteen visitors enter Shop Life, each visitor selects his or her own object at random, and places it on the large interactive table. When set on the table, the object acts as a portal, triggering stories by and about a real tenant of 97 Orchard.

As the Museum continues to research and uncover new stories, and as the tenants of 97 Orchard Street continue to change, the interactive experience can also evolve with this new story. Shop Life ensures the experience and the Tenement Museum’s story remains relevant for the next generation of visitors and New Yorkers alike.