New York is also a global port, and the South Street Seaport Museum is the place to learn about the city’s maritime history. The museum is located in historic buildings and offers exhibitions on navigation, the maritime industry, and the cultural heritage of the Seaport district. Visitors can explore historic ships and discover the vital role of the sea in shaping New York’s history.
The museum consists of three parts, of which two offer interesting tours aboard two different historic ships.
History
The museum was founded in 1967. It is situated in the historic Seaport district — along the East River waterfront, in old brick buildings paved with cobblestones, which already create the atmosphere of the early 19th century.
Main Exhibitions and Highlights
Maritime City
This exhibition tells the story of the Lenape Native Americans, European colonists, Africans, and waves of immigrants whose arrival and labor helped build modern New York.
The collection includes a wide range of objects: from archival documents and maps to sailors’ personal items, printed materials, and interactive artifacts. Visitors can even touch some of the exhibits.
Schermerhorn Row Galleries
These galleries feature two permanent exhibitions:
- South Street and the Rise of New York — shows how the South Street area became a critically important hub in New York’s development as a major port.
- Millions: Migrants and Millionaires Aboard the Great Liners, 1900–1914 — through suitcases, ceramics, personal belongings, and photographs of passengers, the exhibition reveals the contrast between first-class and third-class travelers and their migration stories.
Historic Ships
The museum manages a fleet of historic vessels, all of which can be visited:
- 1885 bark Wavertree — a cargo sailing ship where visitors can go on deck, explore crew cabins, the hold, and the captain’s cabin.
- 1908 Lightship Ambrose — a floating lighthouse equipped like a sea vessel; the tour of its decks shows how the lighthouse keepers lived and the importance of the ship for navigation.
In addition, the museum’s collection includes other vessels such as a schooner, a tugboat, and more.
Bowne & Co. Printing Shop
This 19th-century-style workshop allows visitors to see antique printing equipment, watch craftsmen at work, and even participate in hands-on typesetting and printing workshops.
Entrance to Bowne & Co. is free, and you do not need a ticket to access the main museum space.
Visitor’s Information
Website: southstreetseaportmuseum.org
Address: 12 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
Admission: $18
