South Street Seaport Museum - Where New York Begins

South Street Seaport Museum - Where New York Begins
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Visit the Museum
Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
See Exhibitions on View
Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Tour Historic Ships
Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Explore the Letterpress Print Shop
Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
Reserve 2026 Sailing Tickets
Schooner Pioneer
Explore the Collection Online
Anytime
This Week
Sinister Secrets of the Seaport
Throughout this interactive walking tour, your guide will share historical stories ripped from the headlines of newspapers and publications from the 1790s to the 1990s that provide a new perspective on the history of the area that helped to make New York a global metropolis.
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Print Your Own Stationery
Celebrate this rich legacy of Bowne & Co. in new hands-on workshops! Sign up today for an immersive program where you can work together with Bowne’s designers to produce your own custom set of stationery—from start to finish.
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Seaport Museum Book Club
Seaport Museum staff and special guests will stir up lively discussions informed by our shared love of literature, history, and preservation at this free program.
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Family Activities
Free hands-on activities and engagement stations for kids of all ages provide creative opportunities that illuminate history and life at sea while enhancing your visit.
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New This Week
Elements of Wonder: When Nature Becomes Art
Enrich your next visit to the Seaport Museum with a stop by this new outdoor exhibition! This temporary photographic exhibition is presented in partnership with
Photoville
and features the work of Australian conservation and nature photographer
Jon McCormack
.
As you walk around the large-scale photographs you will see how the work explores the natural world at radically different scales—from microscopic mineral formations to aerial views of rivers and coastlines, revealing recurring patterns of form, structure, and movement.
This limited-time outdoor exhibition is free and open to all—no registration or
General Admission
is required. Stroll through the historic streets of the Seaport and explore the displays at your own pace.
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Museum Admission
Friday–Sunday | 11am–5pm
Tall Ship Wavertree
Lightship Ambrose
Maritime City
Millions
South Street and the Rise of NY
Now On View
Maritime City
Explore the Seaport Museum’s three-floor exhibition
Maritime City
, which highlights how New York City, as we know it today, arose from the sea.
Throughout the extensive exhibition, 540 deliberately-selected objects from the collections and archives of the Museum are on view to underscore how the city’s identity as a global capital of culture and finance is rooted in its origins as a seaport.
As you walk through the exhibition you will discover how the waterways, people, and industries of the Greater New York area led to the creation of a truly diverse city.
Learn More and book General admission
Shop at
Bowne & Co.
Wednesday–Sunday
Bowne & Co. weaves together New York’s rich maritime and printing legacy through two distinctive experiences: the Printing Office and Bowne & Co. Stationers. The Printing Office is a workspace that continues the age-old tradition of job (or small-batch) printing using historic presses from the Seaport Museum’s working collection. Next door, Bowne & Co. Stationers is a 19th century-inspired gift emporium selling a carefully curated selection of unique wares.
Stop by Bowne & Co. Stationers to browse house-designed and letterpress-printed paper goods, along with charming books, candles, stationery, home decor, and delightful oddities.
You can also ask our friendly staff about ordering your own custom letterpress printing and joining in seasonal and monthly activities, workshops, and open houses!
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Sail New York Harbor
The 2026 Schooner Pioneer Season is Now Posted!
Get your ticket today to sail aboard the one-of-a-kind National Register-listed schooner! Perfect for history buffs, maritime and sailing enthusiasts, romantics, or anyone who loves the water, a sail on the
1885 schooner
Pioneer
is an unforgettable way to experience New York City. You have the option to help the crew raise the sails or simply sit back and relax on deck while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and city skyline.
The
Pioneer
sailing season runs from May through October, but you can reserve tickets or book a private charter now to get ahead of the booking rush.
Learn More About Sailing
Featured Blog
From Attics to Archives
Preservation tips for your own family memories
Do you have boxes of old family photos and papers and aren’t sure where to start organizing and caring for them them? The Museum’s Archives and Special Collections Specialist, Elena Abou Mrad, has some expert tips!
While processing a fascinating collection that once belonged to Captain Moses W. Collyer (1856–1942)—a Hudson River sloop captain who also worked in lighterage across New York City—she documented the steps you can take to build your own family archive. From opening letters sealed since the late 1800s to removing rusty staples and performing light preservation work, these practical steps help ensure that collections—whether in museums or at home—are safely organized and preserved for the future.
Discover how museums care for historic materials and learn practical ways to assess, organize, and preserve your own family memories in the latest
Collections Chronicles
blog post.
Read The Blog Post
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South Street Seaport Museum
12 Fulton Street
NY, NY 10038
(212) 748-8600
Open: Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm
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#WhereNewYorkBegins
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