South Street Seaport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Street Seaport
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South Street and Brooklyn Bridge (c. 1900)
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 Location in Lower Manhattan
Location in Manhattan
Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bounded by Burling (John St.) and Peck Slips, Water St. and East River in New York City, United States |
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| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000883 |
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South Street Seaport Historic District
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| Location | Roughly bounded by East River, Brooklyn Bridge, Fletcher Alley, and Pearl and South Streets, Manhattan, New York City, United States |
| Area | 41 acres (17 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001884 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1978 |
| Added to NRHP | October 18, 1972 |
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in New York City. It's located in Manhattan, where Fulton Street meets the East River. This area is part of the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.
It's a special historic district, meaning its old buildings are protected. The Seaport has some of the oldest buildings in Lower Manhattan. It also has the most restored 19th-century business buildings in the city. You can find old shops, renovated sailing ships, and modern places for food and shopping here.
Contents
History of the South Street Seaport
A Busy Port for Trade
The first pier in this area was built in 1625. This was when the Dutch West India Company started an outpost here. As more people moved in, the area grew quickly. Pearl Street became one of the busiest streets. It was named after the many pearl shells found on the coast.
The port was a great place for ships. It was safe from strong winds and ice from the Hudson River. In 1728, the Schermerhorn Family began trading with Charleston, South Carolina. They brought rice and indigo to New York. The port also received many goods from England.
During the American Revolutionary War in 1776, the British took over the port. This hurt trade for eight years. Many traders left, and businesses struggled. But the port quickly recovered after the war. From 1797 to the mid-1800s, New York had the biggest sea trade system in the country. From 1815 to 1860, it was known as the Port of New York.
On February 22, 1784, a ship called the Empress of China sailed from the port. It went to Guangzhou, China. It returned in 1785 with green and black teas, porcelain, and other items. This trip started trade between the new United States and China.
On January 5, 1818, the ship James Monroe left Liverpool. It started the first regular trips across the Atlantic Ocean. This shipping line, called the Black Ball Line, ran until 1878. Its success led to many other shipping companies. This helped New York become a major world trade center.
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The Fulton Fish Market opened in 1822. It became one of the largest companies in the Seaport area. The Tin Building, built in 1907, is one of its last remaining structures. In 2005, the market moved to Hunts Point, Bronx.
In November 1825, the Erie Canal opened. This canal connected New York to the western United States. It helped the city's economy grow a lot. Because of this, piers needed to be longer and the port deeper for bigger ships.
A huge fire in New York City on December 17, 1835, destroyed many buildings. Many parts of the South Street Seaport burned down. But by the 1840s, the port had recovered. By 1850, it was at its busiest time.
At its peak, the port had many businesses. There were shops, workshops, and places for sailors to stay. But by the 1880s, the port started to decline. It didn't have enough space for new businesses. Also, it became too shallow for newer, larger ships. By the 1930s, most piers were not used. Cargo ships mainly docked on the West Side or in Hoboken.
From Port to Museum
The South Street Seaport Museum was started in 1967 by Peter and Norma Stanford. When it first opened, the museum wanted to be an educational historic site. Shops were set up to look like they did during the Seaport's busiest times.
In 1982, plans began to make the museum a bigger tourist attraction. This included building modern shopping areas. A developer named James Rouse led this project. He wanted to create a "festival marketplace" to bring new life to the area. The main Fulton Fish Market building was rebuilt as an upscale shopping mall. Pier 17's old platforms were removed, and a new glass shopping pavilion was built. It opened in August 1984.
In 1982, the Museum received a collection of 285 ship models. These models were made between 1938 and 1950. The collection also included research, photos, and brochures about steamships.
The original goal of the Seaport project was to save the buildings known as Schermerhorn Row. These buildings were in danger of being neglected or torn down. At that time, the history of New York City's sailing ships was not widely valued. Early efforts focused on saving these buildings and acquiring several sailing ships. The entire Seaport neighborhood is designed to take visitors back to New York's mid-19th century. It shows what life was like in the commercial maritime trade. Several historic sailing ships, like the Wavertree, are docked here. A part of Fulton Street still has its original cobblestones and is lined with shops and restaurants.
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of damage to the Seaport. Floods up to 7 feet (2.1 m) deep covered much of the area. This caused so much damage that plans to combine the Seaport Museum with the Museum of the City of New York ended. Many businesses closed, and others saw fewer customers. The South Street Seaport Museum reopened in December 2012.
The Howard Hughes Corporation decided to tear down Pier 17, a main shopping area. They wanted to rebuild the neighborhood. The new Pier 17 has restaurants on the ground floor. The Rooftop at Pier 17 is an outdoor concert venue five stories above the East River. It reopened in July 2018. The Tin Building was also moved 32 feet (9.8 m) east in a project that started in 2018.
What You Can Find at the Seaport
Pier 17
Pier 17 is currently owned and managed by Howard Hughes Corporation. It has different restaurants on its ground floor. The Rooftop at Pier 17 is a large outdoor concert venue. It can hold 3,500 people and hosts summer concerts. Decks on nearby Pier 15 offer great views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights. The Paris Cafe, in the historic area, is said to be one of the oldest bars in New York City.
Peck Slip
Peck Slip was a busy docking place for boats until 1810. It even served as a temporary hiding spot for George Washington and his troops in 1776. In 1838, the S.S. Great Western, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic, docked here. Today, the middle of the street is an open space for the community. It offers views of the Brooklyn Bridge and often hosts public art and events. Peck Slip is also home to the neighborhood's elementary school, P.S. 343.
South Street Seaport Museum
The South Street Seaport Museum is part of "America's National Maritime Museum". It is located in a 12-block historic district, which was the original port of New York City. The Museum has over 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of exhibition space. It includes galleries, a 19th-century print shop, an archeology museum, and a maritime library. It also has the largest private collection of historic ships in the country.
Historic Ships in the Port
The museum has five ships docked either always or for long periods. Four of these ships have special historical status.
| Name | Year Launched | Type | Description | Picture | Notes |
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| United States Lightship LV-87 | 1908 | Lightship | LV-87 is a lightship 135 feet (41 m) long. It was built in Camden, New Jersey, in 1907. It guided ships at the entrance to Ambrose Channel. In 1966, it was retired and sent to the South Street Seaport in 1968. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1989. |  |
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| Lettie G. Howard | 1893 | Schooner | This fishing schooner was launched in Essex, Massachusetts. The vessel is 125 feet (38 m) long. It was used for fishing, mostly near Yucatan. In 1989, it was given National Historic Landmark status. |  |
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| Pioneer | 1885 | Schooner | This schooner was launched in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. It was first a sloop, then changed to a schooner in 1895. The ship is 102 feet (31 m) long. Its hull was originally wrought iron but rebuilt with steel in the 1960s. It carried goods like sand, wood, and bricks. Now it offers educational tours of New York Harbor. |  |
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| W. O. Decker | 1930 | Tugboat | This 52 foot (16 m) steam tug was built in Long Island City, Queens. Its engine was later replaced with a 175 horsepower (130 kW) diesel engine. In 1986, the boat was given to the South Street Seaport museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. |  |
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| Wavertree | 1885 | Freighter | This ship was launched in Southampton. It is 325 feet (99 m) long with its spars. It is the largest remaining wrought iron vessel. It first carried jute from India to Scotland. Later, it was used for general cargo. In 1947, it became a sand barge. The South Street Seaport Museum bought it in 1968. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. |  |
Legend:
- – Designated National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places
- – On the National Register of Historic Places
The Pioneer and W. O. Decker operate when the weather is good.
Other Attractions
At the entrance to the Seaport, you can see the Titanic Memorial lighthouse. Sports broadcaster ESPN opened a radio and television studio at Pier 17 in April 2018. It covers 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2).
Getting to the South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is served by the M15, M15 SBS New York City Bus routes.
New York Water Taxi serves the Seaport on Fridays, weekends, and holidays in summer. Other ferries like NYC Ferry and SeaStreak use the nearby ferry slip at Pier 11/Wall Street daily.
The Fulton Street/Fulton Center station complex (2, 3, 4, 5, A C E, J, N, R, W, and Z train) is the closest New York City Subway station. A new subway station, called Seaport, has been suggested. It would be part of a future phase of the Second Avenue Subway.
Gallery
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Aerial view
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Fulton Market
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Pier 17
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Corner of Front and Beekman Streets
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Peck Slip US Post Office, now reused as school
See also
In Spanish: South Street Seaport para niños
- East River Esplanade
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- List of museum ships
