The earlier European communities which gave distinctive flavors to the neighborhood have been replaced by Asian. Latin American. and Caribbean residents. The Immigrant lifestyle. a rich weave of intelacing threads. plays out its daily drama in an environment largely unchanged in many ways from the Lower East Side of 100 years ago. In numerous places 19th century brick tenements still line the streetshousing businesses at the street level. and families in the floors above. The Lower East Side maintains a distinct Identity. whose present character harkens back to a Big Apple of yesteryear. As a Nation. we take pride in commemoratIn. important contributions to our culture. tionuments to Illustrious leaders abound. icons such as the Statue of Liberty pay homage to our ideals. log cabins and farmhouses stand as symbols of our agrarian roots. Until recently. however. the urban. workingclass immigrant element of our heritage remained a historically important. yet undercelebrated sector of the American experience. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum strives to fill that niche. and Congresswoman MOLINARI and I aim to help facilitate that task. The museum is believed to be the Nations first to be specifically devoted to the urban immigrant experience. It is housed in an actual
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