Pioneer (schooner) facts for kids
Pioneer in New York Harbor
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Pioneer |
| Owner | South Street Seaport Museum |
| Completed | 1885, Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania |
| Refit | 1895 (sloop->schooner); around 1930 (outfitted w/engine & downrigged); 1966 (schooner rig restored, hull rebuilt) |
| Status | Sea-going museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 43 gross tons |
| Length | 102 ft (31 m) overall |
| Beam | 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) |
| Height | 76.6 ft (23.3 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft (3.7 m) w/centerboard, 4.5 ft (1.4 m) w/o |
| Propulsion | Sail; auxiliary diesel engine |
| Sail plan | Two-masted schooner, 2,737 square feet (254.3 m2) total sail area |
| Notes | Originally iron-hulled; currently steel-hulled with iron frames |
The Pioneer is a historic sailing ship, known as a schooner, that has been carefully restored. It sails from the South Street Seaport in New York City. This ship was built a long time ago, in the year 1885.
Contents
The Pioneer's Journey Through Time
Early Days as a Cargo Sloop
The Pioneer was built in 1885 in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. It started its life as a cargo sloop. A sloop is a type of sailing ship with one mast. The Pioneer was special because it was one of only two American cargo sloops ever built with a wrought iron hull. This means its main body was made of strong iron.
For ten years, the Pioneer carried goods in the Delaware Bay. After this time, it was changed to a schooner rig. A schooner has two or more masts, which made it easier to handle.
Changes Over the Years
In 1930, the Pioneer was sold to someone in Massachusetts. By then, it had an engine and was no longer used just for sailing. It was sold again in 1966 to Russell Grinnell, Jr. He used the ship for his business that built docks.
Mr. Grinnell decided to restore the Pioneer's schooner rig. He also rebuilt its hull using steel plating, but he kept the original iron frame. When he passed away in 1970, he gave the Pioneer to the South Street Seaport Museum.
The Pioneer Today
Today, the Pioneer sails during certain times of the year from the South Street Seaport in Manhattan. It offers daily trips for the public to enjoy. You can also book the ship for special events or join its educational programs for children.
The ship's crew includes both professional sailors and volunteers. They work together to keep the Pioneer sailing and share its history with visitors.
