South Street Seaport
Encyclopedia
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City
borough
of Manhattan
, located where Fulton Street
meets the East River
, and adjacent to the Financial District
. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market
, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge
. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse
.
Designated by Congress in 1998 as one of several museums, which together make up "America's National Maritime Museum
", South Street Seaport Museum sits in a 12 square-block historic district that is the site of the original port of New York City. The Museum has over 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of exhibition space and educational facilities. It houses exhibition galleries, a working 19th-century print shop, an archeology museum, a maritime library, a craft center, a marine life conservation lab, and the largest privately owned fleet of historic ships in the country. Included in this fleet are:
The original intent of the Seaport development was the preservation of the block of buildings known as Schermerhorn Row
on the southwest side of Fulton Street, which were threatened with neglect or future development, at a time when the history of New York City's sailing ship industry was not valued, except by some antiquarian
s. Early historic preservation efforts focused on these buildings and the acquisition of several sailing ships.
Almost all buildings and the entire Seaport neighborhood are meant to transport the visitor back in time to New York's mid-19th century, to demonstrate what life in the commercial maritime trade was like. Docked at the Seaport are a few historical sailing vessels, including the Flying P-Liner
, Peking
and museum ship
s. A section of nearby Fulton Street is preserved as cobblestone and lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.
The Bridge Cafe
, which claims to be "The Oldest Drinking Establishment in New York" is in a building that formerly housed a brothel.
via development of modern shopping areas. On the other side of Fulton Street from Schermerhorn Row, the main Fulton Fish Market building, which had become a large plain garage-type structure, was rebuilt as an upscale shopping mall
. Pier 17's old platforms were demolished and a new glass shopping pavilion raised in its place, which opened in August 1983.
The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall
and tourism center
, built on Pier 17 on the East River
. Visitors may choose from among many shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge
and Brooklyn Heights
. The Seaport is now operated by The Howard Hughes Corporation
.
's In Bloom
video was filmed here in 1990. The video features Kurt, Krist and Chad clowning around inside the South Street Mall as well as Wall Street. The seaport is also a crucial location in the movie I Am Legend
.
The venue is home to the Seaport Music Festival
each summer.
In the video game Crysis 2
, Pier 17 was featured as a multi-player map.
directly serves South Street Seaport on Fridays, weekends, and holidays during the summer, while other New York Water Taxi, NY Waterway
, and SeaStreak
ferries serve the nearby ferry slip
at Wall Street
daily. The Fulton Street
station complex is the closest New York City Subway
station. A new subway station (named "Seaport") has been proposed as part of Phase 4 of the Second Avenue Subway
, but has not been funded as of 2010. Although this station will be located only 3 blocks from the Fulton Street
station, there are no plans for a free transfer between them.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, located where Fulton Street
Fulton Street (Manhattan)
Fulton Street is a busy street located in Lower Manhattan. It is in New York City's Financial District, a few blocks north of Wall Street. It runs from Church Street at the site of the World Trade Center to South Street, terminating in front of the South Street Seaport...
meets the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, and adjacent to the Financial District
Financial District, Manhattan
The Financial District of New York City is a neighborhood on the southernmost section of the borough of Manhattan which comprises the offices and headquarters of many of the city's major financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York...
. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market
Fulton Fish Market
The Fulton Fish Market is a fish market in The Bronx, New York, United States. It was originally a wing of the Fulton Market, established in 1822 to sell a variety of foodstuffs and produce...
, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse
Titanic Memorial (New York City)
The Titanic Memorial is a lighthouse built, due in part to the instigation of Margaret Brown, to remember the people who died on the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.- History :The lighthouse was originally erected by public subscription in 1913...
.
History
South Street Seaport Museum was founded in 1967 by Peter and Norma Stanford. When originally opened as a museum, the focus of the Seaport Museum conservation was to be an educational historic site, with "shops" mostly operating as reproductions of working environments found during the Seaport's heyday, 1820 to 1860.Designated by Congress in 1998 as one of several museums, which together make up "America's National Maritime Museum
Maritime museum
A maritime museum is a museum specializing in the display of objects relating to ships and travel on large bodies of water...
", South Street Seaport Museum sits in a 12 square-block historic district that is the site of the original port of New York City. The Museum has over 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) of exhibition space and educational facilities. It houses exhibition galleries, a working 19th-century print shop, an archeology museum, a maritime library, a craft center, a marine life conservation lab, and the largest privately owned fleet of historic ships in the country. Included in this fleet are:
- PekingPeking (ship)The Peking is a steel-hulled four-masted barque — the sister ship to the Passat. A so-called Flying P-Liner of the German company F...
, a 1911, four-masted barqueBarqueA barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
³ - WavertreeWavertree (ship)Wavertree is a historic iron-hulled sailing ship located at the South Street Seaport in New York City. Wavertree is currently the largest large iron sailing vessel afloat.- History :...
, an 1885, fully rigged cargo ship³ - PioneerPioneer (schooner)Pioneer is a restored nineteenth century schooner sailing out of South Street Seaport in New York, New York.-History:Pioneer was built in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania in 1885 as a cargo sloop. She was the first of only two American cargo sloops ever built with a wrought iron hull...
, an 1885 schooner¹ ³ - Lettie G. HowardLettie G. Howard (schooner)Lettie G. Howard is a wooden Fredonia schooner built in 1893 in Essex, Massachusetts, USA. This type of craft was commonly used by American offshore fishermen. The Lettie spent a significant portion of her working life off the Yucatan Peninsula coast. In 1968, she was sold to the South Street...
, an 1893 schooner¹ ² - AmbroseLightship AmbroseLightship Ambrose was the name given to multiple lightships that served as the sentinel beacon marking Ambrose Channel which is the main shipping channel for New York Harbor....
, a 1908 lightship² - Helen McAllister, a 1900 tugboat
- W.O. DeckerW. O. Decker (tugboat)The W. O. Decker is a tugboat built in 1930. As of 2011 it is located at the South Street Seaport Museum in lower Manhattan, New York City. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1996....
, a 1930 tugboat¹ ³ - Marion M., a 1932 chandleryChandleryA chandlery was originally the office in a medieval household responsible for wax and candles, as well as the room in which the candles were kept. It was headed by a chandler. The office was subordinated to the kitchen, and only existed as a separate office in larger households...
lighter
- ¹ During favorable weather, these vessels take the public out into New York City’s waterways.
- ² These vessels have been designated National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
s by the National Park Service. - ³ These vessels have been listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
by the National Park Service.
The original intent of the Seaport development was the preservation of the block of buildings known as Schermerhorn Row
Schermerhorn Row Block
The Schermerhorn Row Block is now part of South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan in New York City. The first buildings, Schermerhorn Row on Fulton Street, were built in 1811.-History:...
on the southwest side of Fulton Street, which were threatened with neglect or future development, at a time when the history of New York City's sailing ship industry was not valued, except by some antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
s. Early historic preservation efforts focused on these buildings and the acquisition of several sailing ships.
Almost all buildings and the entire Seaport neighborhood are meant to transport the visitor back in time to New York's mid-19th century, to demonstrate what life in the commercial maritime trade was like. Docked at the Seaport are a few historical sailing vessels, including the Flying P-Liner
Flying P-Liner
The Flying P-Liners were the sailing ships of the German shipping company F. Laeisz of Hamburg.The company was founded in 1824 by Ferdinand Laeisz as a hat manufacturing company. He was quite successful and distributed his hats even in South America...
, Peking
Peking (ship)
The Peking is a steel-hulled four-masted barque — the sister ship to the Passat. A so-called Flying P-Liner of the German company F...
and museum ship
Museum ship
A museum ship, or sometimes memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public, for educational or memorial purposes...
s. A section of nearby Fulton Street is preserved as cobblestone and lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.
The Bridge Cafe
Bridge Cafe
The Bridge Cafe is located at 279 Water Street in the South Street Seaport area of Manhattan. It opened in 1794 and claims to be "The Oldest Drinking Establishment in New York" in a building that used to house a brothel. It has been under its current ownership since 1979.New York Magazine...
, which claims to be "The Oldest Drinking Establishment in New York" is in a building that formerly housed a brothel.
Concept
In 1982, redevelopment began to turn the museum into a greater tourist attractionTourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
via development of modern shopping areas. On the other side of Fulton Street from Schermerhorn Row, the main Fulton Fish Market building, which had become a large plain garage-type structure, was rebuilt as an upscale shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
. Pier 17's old platforms were demolished and a new glass shopping pavilion raised in its place, which opened in August 1983.
The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
and tourism center
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
, built on Pier 17 on the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
. Visitors may choose from among many shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
and Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights is a culturally diverse neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Originally referred to as 'Brooklyn Village', it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. As of 2000, Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,594 people. The neighborhood is part of...
. The Seaport is now operated by The Howard Hughes Corporation
The Howard Hughes Corporation
The Howard Hughes Corporation is a major real estate development and management company based in Dallas, Texas, which was founded by Howard Hughes. Later sold to the Rouse Company, it became a separate company again in 2010, as a spinoff of General Growth Properties .Upon exiting bankruptcy, GGP...
.
In pop culture
The original Sub Pop version of NirvanaNirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's In Bloom
In Bloom
"In Bloom" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. Written by frontman Kurt Cobain, the song addresses people outside of the underground music community who did not understand the band's message....
video was filmed here in 1990. The video features Kurt, Krist and Chad clowning around inside the South Street Mall as well as Wall Street. The seaport is also a crucial location in the movie I Am Legend
I Am Legend (film)
I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Will Smith. It is the third feature film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, following 1964's The Last Man on Earth and 1971's The Omega Man. Smith plays virologist Robert...
.
The venue is home to the Seaport Music Festival
Seaport Music Festival
Seaport Music Festival is an international indie-oriented music festival staged on Pier 17 at The Seaport in lower Manhattan during the summer...
each summer.
In the video game Crysis 2
Crysis 2
Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia, and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360...
, Pier 17 was featured as a multi-player map.
Transportation
South Street Seaport is currently served by the M15 New York City Bus route. New York Water TaxiNew York Water Taxi
New York Water Taxi is a water taxi service based in Red Hook, Brooklyn offering commuter and sightseeing service mainly to points along the East River and Hudson River...
directly serves South Street Seaport on Fridays, weekends, and holidays during the summer, while other New York Water Taxi, NY Waterway
NY Waterway
NY Waterway, or New York Waterway, is a private transportation company running ferry and bus service in the Port of New York and New Jersey and in the Hudson Valley...
, and SeaStreak
SeaStreak
SeaStreak is a private ferry system that provides high-speed commuter service between points in Manhattan and the Raritan Bayshore in Monmouth County, New Jersey, as well as special event and sightseeing excursions in New York Harbor.-History:...
ferries serve the nearby ferry slip
Ferry slip
A ferry slip is a specialized docking facility that receives a ferryboat or train ferry. A similar structure called a barge slip receives a barge or car float that is used to carry wheeled vehicles across a body of water....
at Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
daily. The Fulton Street
Fulton Street (New York City Subway)
Fulton Street is a station complex on the New York City Subway in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It consists of four linked stations on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, the BMT Nassau Street Line, the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, and the IND Eighth Avenue Line...
station complex is the closest New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
station. A new subway station (named "Seaport") has been proposed as part of Phase 4 of the Second Avenue Subway
Second Avenue Subway
The Second Avenue Subway is a planned rapid transit subway line, part of the New York City Subway system. Phase I, consisting of two miles of tunnel and three stations, is currently under construction underneath Second Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.A plan for more than 75 years, the Second...
, but has not been funded as of 2010. Although this station will be located only 3 blocks from the Fulton Street
Fulton Street (New York City Subway)
Fulton Street is a station complex on the New York City Subway in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It consists of four linked stations on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, the BMT Nassau Street Line, the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, and the IND Eighth Avenue Line...
station, there are no plans for a free transfer between them.
External links
- Official Site
- South Street Seaport Museum
- Interactive Map of the Seaport - Seaport Cultural Association
- http://www.albanyny.org/pdfs/p90_100.pdf
- A digital history of South Street Seaport by Fordham University students
- Video profile of the historic Fulton Ferry Hotel at South Street Seaport
- Image gallery