The Ravenswood Generation Station, located in Long Island City, has made appearances in blockbuster movies like “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” This iconic site is set to be open for public tours during the upcoming Open House NY Weekend, scheduled for mid to late October, allowing visitors to experience its grandeur firsthand.
This year’s Open House NY Weekend will run from October 18 to 20, featuring over 270 previously off-limits attractions in New York City, including the landmark Ravenswood Generation Station, which currently supplies approximately 20% of the city’s electricity.
Operated by Rise Light & Power, the facility’s CEO, Clint Plummer, describes it as a living museum with a rich 60-year history. This year marks the first time the station has opened its doors to visitors during the Open House event.
Other new venues welcoming guests this year include the Bronx Music Hall and the Bronx Music Heritage Center, along with The Players, the city’s oldest private social club, located on the original site of Gramercy Park.
Club President Townes Coates emphasized the wealth of artifacts collected over the club’s 135 years, including portraits of notable members like Ethan Hawke. He stated, “This is a house filled with stunning architectural and artistic elements that you can experience up close.”
Additional sites available for tours include the textile conservation lab at St. John the Divine, where sacred fabrics are restored in a renovated 19th-century orphanage connected to the cathedral. Visitors can also explore an active construction site in Tribeca, a hand-painted sign shop, and a Greek Revival mansion in the Bronx.
Kristin LaBuz, the executive director of Open House New York, noted that New Yorkers are naturally curious and expects that the 7,000 tickets available will sell out quickly this week.
Celebrating its 21st year, the event will bring back several sites, including the former Brooklyn Rapid Transit Power Station, the recently reopened Lewis Latimer House Museum, and the United Nations headquarters.
Tickets became available online starting October 8 at 11 AM, with many attractions offering free admission.
