Purefinder New York

Purefinder New York

Purefinder New York: Dark History Walking Tours Through NYC’s Buried Past

Discover what the city doesn’t want you to see.

As Featured In

Forget Hamilton singalongs and ghost stories. Purefinder New York offers something far more provocative.
— Time Out New York
NPR
Purefinder New York shows off a different part of the city.
— NPR
New York Post
Get a glimpse into the city’s macabre history.
— New York Post

Our Tours

Purefinder New York leads historical walking tours in New York City that uncover the city’s hidden past, places and stories most guidebooks ignore. From burial grounds and psychiatric wards to radical politics, scandal, and science, our tours explore the truths that shaped New York beneath the surface.

Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime local, you'll experience a side of the city that’s often erased, avoided, or forgotten. We also offer private tours and lectures. Get in touch to learn more.

New York City Farm Colony ruins, evocative of Purefinder New York’s uncovering of forgotten New York stories.

About

Purefinder New York uncovers stories from New York City’s past involving death, mental health, epidemics, reform, and the institutions that shaped urban life. We’re part of the growing world of dark tours in NYC, but unlike ghost tours, our walks are grounded in documented history rather than legends.

Led by experts and grounded in research, our tours offer a thoughtful alternative to surface-level sightseeing for curious visitors, longtime locals, and anyone who wants to see New York differently.

Purefinder New York was founded by journalist and author K. Krombie and grew out of research for her book Death in New York. The Death in New York tour brings many of those stories back to the streets where they unfolded.

Large Purefinder New York tour group, representing the company’s recognition for excellence.

Recognized for Excellence

Purefinder New York is recommended by 100% of travelers on TripAdvisor and has earned three Viator Badge of Excellence awards.

Our tours have been praised by major outlets including Time Out New York, NPR, Fox 5, and the New York Post. Time Out named them one of the top 10 quirky NYC events and described them as uncovering “the ‘forbidden’ parts of NYC you won’t find in a guidebook.”

See more media mentions.

Viator Badge of Excellence

Recognized for Excellence

Tripadvisor

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Officially featured on KAYAK