South Street Seaport Museum: Exhibitions
Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am–5pm
A bustling port. A growing city. See how New York’s natural harbor and the development of the Seaport helped NYC become the nation’s leading city. Three exhibitions at the South Street Seaport Museum take you inside the fascinating history.
Maritime City
A.A. Thomson & Co., 213 Water Street
The Seaport Museum’s latest exhibition Maritime City, highlights how New York City, as we know it today, arose from the sea. Throughout the extensive three-floor exhibition, 540 deliberately-selected objects from the collections and archives of the Seaport 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. Learn more about the exhibition at seaportmuseum.org/maritime-city
“Arrivals in Port of New York” 1939. Photographic print. US Custom House Collection
South Street and the Rise of New York
Schermerhorn Row, 12 Fulton Street
Experience the exhibition that explores the critical role played by the Seaport and South Street in securing New York’s place as America’s largest city and its rise to become the world’s busiest port by the start of the 20th century. Learn more about the exhibition at seaportmuseum.org/rise
“RMS Olympic passing the Ambrose Channel lightship” ca. 1920. Gift of Michael R. Harrison, South Street Seaport Museum
Millions: Migrants and Millionaires aboard the Great Liners, 1900–1914
Schermerhorn Row, 12 Fulton Street
Through large-scale reproductions and selected artifacts on display—including ocean liner memorabilia, ceramics, and luggage trunks—the exhibition examines the divide between First Class and Third Class passengers who traveled on early 20th-century ocean liners. Learn more about the exhibition at seaportmuseum.org/millions
“Ladies Parlor on SS Moltke” June 3, 1907 (postmark date)
Published by Mühlmeister & Juhler, Hamburg
Gift of Wendell Lorang, South Street Seaport Museum
In addition to these exhibitions, South Street Seaport Museum offers tours of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and the 1908 lightship Ambrose Wednesday through Sunday.
Reserve Tickets
Gallery wall and Ambrose model photo credit: Richard Bowditch