Driving Communication Innovation at the NYC Tenement Museum

In the Lower East Side of New York City, a historic institution is transforming how it connects with visitors from all walks of life. The NYC Tenement Museum known for its historic depictions of immigrant life, uses language accessibility to ensure visitors can be fully immersed in its tours and exhibits. How is it doing this? By leveraging AI-powered language platform Sorenson Forum, the museum is breaking down language barriers and setting new standards for inclusivity in cultural institutions. 

The services multilingual translation and captioning abilities, allow the museum to enhance access to its resources while showcasing the potential of cutting-edge language solutions to foster engagement and create a more inclusive experience for guests. Through multilingual tours and exhibits and a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, the museum leads the charge toward a more interconnected world. 

A museum with a unique perspective 

The Tenement Museum offers an immersive window into the tenement apartment homes of immigrants, migrants, and refugees. The stories of working-class residents who lived between the 1860s and the 1980s come to life through interactive tours of the intact tenements and the Lower East Side neighborhood, where they came to begin new lives for themselves and their families.  

The museum was founded by historian Ruth Abram and social activist Anita Jacobson and opened in 1988.  They discovered a rundown but intact tenement building at 97 Orchard Street that residents had not lived in for over fifty years. The pair found the apartments still contained the personal belongings of the families who resided there between 1860 and 1930. 

The artifacts, which included toys, hairpins, board games, and business cards, became insights into the stories of ordinary people trying to build new lives in a foreign country. While textbooks and other museums often neglect the experiences of everyday people, The Tenement Museum provides visitors with an intimate glimpse into the homes where the immigrant’s new lives began.    

A deep commitment to inclusivity is central to the NYC Tenement Museum’s mission. From guided tours in multiple languages to a multilingual staff, every effort aims to make all visitors feel included and valued. This commitment is paramount to a museum that tells the story of diverse cultural identities and experiences, honoring and providing the opportunity to visit the museum without language barriers.  

To further its mission, the museum has implemented Sorenson Forum, an AI powered multilingual accessibility solution. Allegra Tribone, the museum’s Visitor Services Manager, shared why the museum wanted to use the technology; “We wanted to provide translation services for our non-English-speaking visitors who otherwise can’t understand the content and history of the museum. We have some of our primary sources translated in other languages, but the tours are led in English, so the challenge was getting a translation for the entire program.”  

The service solves this challenge by offering real-time captions in 25 core languages and 43 dialects, ensuring that all tours and programs are accessible to linguistically diverse onsite and remote participants. 

By actively fostering an environment that accommodates more languages, the museum offers guests a deeper understanding of New York City’s rich immigration history. This inclusive spirit extends to the museum’s educational programs and curriculum, which delve into the stories of immigrants who have shaped the city’s cultural identity, leaving visitors feeling enlightened and educated. 

The museum’s partnership with Sorenson Forum has had such an impact that after seeing how the service streamlined communications between guides, staff, and guests, the museum is inspired to consider adding Sorenson Express ASL to its accessibility tools to better reach Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. With these real-time language services, visitors can engage with exhibits regardless of their native language, and the museum can reach a broader, global audience.   

The Future of Language Access 

The Tenement Museum’s use of advanced language solutions demonstrates the power of technology to transform cultural institutions: the museum can offer real-time language support to visitors who attend guided tours of its two historic buildings. This allows for an immersive experience exploring identity, public policy, and urban development from the perspective of the families who lived their lives in the buildings and surrounding neighborhoods.  

By continuously expanding language offerings and exploring new technologies, the museum paves the way for other institutions to follow.  

Its commitment to accessibility demonstrates that technology can open doors and foster meaningful connections among people from all backgrounds.  

Discover What’s Possible 

Ready to explore how advanced language solutions can transform your business or institution? Connect with our team for a personalized accessibility consultation and discover the power of inclusive communication. Let us help you break down language barriers and create a more connected future.