Welcome to the South Street Seaport Museum

Our Mission: For almost 200 years - well into this century - New York was the world's leading port. The South Street Museum, founded in 1967, occupies the streets and buildings of the city's original seaport, and is devoted to tracing the drama of New York's history as a commercial, cultural, and financial power with the port as the engine that drove it all.

Our Site: The museum is located in an 11-square block historic district of stone-paved streets and 18th and 19th century commercial buildings. Its namesake, South Street - once known as the "Street of Ships" - is still home to the nation's oldest and largest wholesale fish market. Museum facilities include four galleries - one devoted to children's programs; one of the country's largest fleets of historic sailing ships; a working re-creation of a 19th century printing shop; a Maritime Crafts Center; New York Unearthed, an off site facility devoted to New York's archaeological heritage; a library, open by appointment; and two shops.

Our Ships: The museum owns six historic vessels, including two large sailing ships - Peking and Wavertree, typical of vessels that once carried the world's cargo; two 19th century schooners, the Pioneer and the Lettie G. Howard; a 1930 tug, the W.O. Decker; and the lightship Ambrose.

Our Collections: The museum's holdings comprise the world's largest collection of art and historic artifacts relating to New York's port; hundreds of examples of 19th century type and several vintage printing presses; over two million archaeological artifacts; and books, documents, photographs, and prints pertaining to the Seaport district and the larger port.

Our Programs: Museum staff use our site, ships, and collections to build a year-round schedule of innovative programs - exhibitions, lectures, tours, festivals, performances, and demonstrations for adults, children, and schools - and publications, including Seaport, New York City's only history magazine.

This page was created by Alberto Lazo and graphics by Rachel Berger.
Any questions email imagecom@its.brooklyn.cuny.edu
© 1995 Last Modified 11/22/95