South Street Seaport Museum is a campus Museum, occupying several landmarked buildings and historic ships. The Museum includes locations from Water Street to Pier 16 throughout the South Street Seaport Historic District. Traveling among Museum locations may require navigating cobblestone streets, sidewalks, a busy intersection, and a weathered wooden pier. Accessible bathrooms are located underneath the FDR near Pier 16. For detailed information about guest areas, see below. For more information related to your specific needs, please call (212) 748-8600 or email tickets@seany.org with any questions or requests for accommodation.
1885 Tall Ship Wavertree: Entry to Wavertree requires climbing a set of seven steps followed by an angled gangway. At the top of the gangway, there are several small steps down, and one large step down onto the main deck of the ship. On board, the main deck is fully exposed to the elements with limited opportunities for shade. Access to the interior spaces of Wavertree requires stepping over high sills. The below-deck areas of Wavertree are frequently open to guests; guests must take one flight of grating stairs to access the tween deck, and two flights of grating stairs to view the cargo hold. Visiting the upper deck, or quarterdeck, requires navigating steep, ladder-like stairs.
1908 Lightship Ambrose: Entry to Ambrose requires walking up an angled, mobile gangway. At the top of the gangway, guests must step down to board the vessel. Visiting interior spaces and the lower decks requires stepping over high sills and navigating steep stairs.
12 Fulton Street: The introduction galleries in Schermerhorn Row are at street level and are wheelchair accessible. The bathrooms in the gallery spaces are located on the mezzanine level; visiting the bathroom requires walking up a flight of with one handrail. Accessible bathrooms are located underneath the FDR near Pier 16.
207, 209, and 211 Water Street: The preserved, historic entrance to Bowne & Co. Stationers at 211 Water Street and the workshop and event space at 207-209 Water Street are just above street level. Guests must navigate two steep, historic steps without handrails. The door and aisles in Bowne & Co., Stationers can accommodate wheelchairs up to 30 inches wide.
213 Water Street: Public access begins March 2025. The entrance to the exhibition galleries in the A.A. Thomson & Co. building is six steps above street level, with wheelchair access available via a platform lift. The lift and accessible entrance are located on the left side of the building entrance. Each of the three floors with public offerings are accessible by elevator or flights of stairs with one handrail. Accessible, single stall, gender neutral bathrooms are located on floors 2–5.
1885 Schooner Pioneer and 1930 Tugboat W.O. Decker: Public access resumes with the 2025 sailing season. Boarding both vessels requires walking a set of stairs, angled ramps, and surfaces that are moving. Boarding either Pioneer or Decker requires going up one step, walking an angled gangway ramp up and down, stepping down onto a floating dock, and then stepping across a gap from the floating dock onto the ship. Once onboard, there is bench-style seating on each vessel. If you have specific access questions related to Pioneer or Decker, please call (212) 748-8600 or email tickets@seany.org with any questions or requests for accommodation.
South Street Seaport Museum
By subway: Take the A, C, 2, 3, J, Z, 4, or 5 train to Fulton Street.
By bus: Take the M-15 SBS or M-15 to Fulton Street.
By water: The NYC Ferry, and New York Waterway provide service to Pier 11. The Staten Island Ferry provides services to Whitehall Terminal.
Parking: Parking lots can be found at Front and John Streets, as well as 294 Pearl Street.