Today, on her birthday, we celebrate Josephine Baldizzi and the legacy she created at 97 Orchard Street. In 1935, nine-year-old Josephine lived at 97 Orchard Street with her parents, Adolfo and Rosaria Baldizzi, and her younger brother, Johnny. Life during the Great Depression was difficult, but Josephine’s memories—of her mother’s fried egg sandwiches, playful afternoons with her brother, and singing along to the strum of her father’s guitar—were filled with warmth and love. Today, Josephine’s children and grandchildren continue to visit the Tenement Museum to honor Josephine and the home she helped create. 📷 1) Josephine (age 9) and Johnny (age 7) Baldizzi in 1935 on the roof of 97 Orchard Street. 2) Josephine Baldizzi Esposito and her godmother, Rose Bonofiglio, on the occasion of her confirmation. Both lived at 97 Orchard in the early 1930s. 3) Josephine and her husband, George, in 1991. (Back row: Their daughter, Maria, and her husband. Front row: Josephine’s grandchildren). (fb)

97 Orchard Street was once home to generations of immigrant, migrant, and refugee families building new lives. Today, it’s a place where their stories connect us all. This #InternationalMuseumDay and in the honor of #LowerEastSideHistoryMonth, we celebrate how museums like ours bring communities together—across time, cultures, and generations. 📷 1) Facade 97 Orchard Street, 1994. Photo Courtesy: Paul Peralta. 2) 97 Orchard, 2025. (fb)